Researchers have found that SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) antidepressants have the potential to improve certain cognitive functions, such as verbal memory.
European College of NeuropsychopharmacologySep 22 2024 Researchers have found that SSRI antidepressants have the potential to improve certain cognitive function s, such as verbal memory. They measured brain function in patients before and after taking the SSRI escitalopram and correlated this to a drop in the level of one of the serotonin receptors in the brain and to cognitive improvements during treatment.
The researchers began by scanning the brains of 90 depressed patients, to measure the quantity of 5HT4 receptor which serotonin binds to. At the same time, patients were given a series of tests to measure mood and cognitive abilities. This is potentially significant. It seems that the SSRI medication contributes to an improvement on cognitive function, at the same time as helping improve mood. Our work ties the improvement in cognitive function to the specific 5HT4 receptor and suggest that direct serotonin 4 receptor stimulation may be in important pro-cognitive target to consider in optimizing outcomes of antidepressant treatment. It also reinforces the idea that serotonin is crucial to mood improvement.
Clinical Depression Cognitive Function Depression Drugs Hospital Psychiatry Receptor Serotonin
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