This invention relates to amide compounds having the potentiation of the cholinergic activity and represented by formula (I) wherein R1 is acyl, R2 is lower alkyl, A is a single bond, —CO— or —SO2—, E is lower alkylene, X is CH or N, Y is a single bond, Q is —CH2— etc. and R3 and R4 are taken together to form lower alkylene etc., pharmaceutically acceptable salts and processes fro preparation thereof and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same.