They have a double effect.
A recent study suggests that antidepressants may enhance memory and cognitive skills. Researchers found that some patients taking the SSRI antidepressant escitalopram (Lexapro) showed improvements on brain function tests.
The study, published in Biological Psychiatry, indicates that escitalopram affects a serotonin receptor in the brain called the 5HT4 receptor. Serotonin, often referred to as the “feel-good” hormone, plays a significant role in mood regulation. Increased levels of serotonin are associated with a sense of well-being and have been shown to alleviate symptoms of clinical depression.
Lead investigator Vibeke Dam, a senior researcher at Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark, explained that the antidepressant not only improves mood but also enhances cognitive functions. “Our research connects the improvement in cognitive function with the 5HT4 receptor, suggesting that direct stimulation of this receptor could be a key target for optimizing antidepressant treatments,” Dam noted in a press release. The findings reinforce the idea that serotonin is essential for both mood and cognitive enhancement.
For the study, the researchers scanned the brains of 90 patients suffering from depression to assess the function of the 5HT4 receptor and tested the patients’ mood and cognitive abilities. The participants were then treated with daily doses of escitalopram for eight weeks. At the conclusion of the study, 40 of the patients were retested and scanned again.
The results showed improvements in the patients’ cognitive abilities, particularly in word recall. This improvement appeared to be linked to increased activity at the 5HT4 receptor.
Dr. Vibe Froekjaer, a clinical professor of neuropsychiatry at Copenhagen University Hospital and the study’s lead researcher, suggested that targeting the 5HT4 receptor could help treat cognitive issues independently of a patient’s depressive symptoms. The research team plans to explore treatments specifically aimed at the 5HT4 receptor to see how these drugs influence brain function. Since serotonin is also found in the gut, the team noted that certain irritable bowel syndrome drugs, which target 5HT4 receptors, might offer insights.
These findings were also presented at the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology’s annual conference in Milan. Philip Cowen, a psychopharmacology professor at the University of Oxford, commented on the study, stating that it highlights the important role of the 5HT4 receptor in cognitive function. Cowen referenced related research from Oxford, which found that prucalopride, a medication for constipation, also improved memory in both healthy individuals and those at risk for depression, further supporting the link between the 5HT4 receptor and cognitive enhancement.
Discussion about this post