A medication currently approved to treat constipation may offer a potential new avenue for addressing the cognitive deficits, often described as “brain fog,” that frequently persist in patients with depression. In a small clinical trial, researchers found that participants who received the drug prucalopride demonstrated improved performance on tests of memory, attention, and thinking speed compared to those who received a placebo.
This study investigates whether targeting serotonin receptors in the brain can bridge that gap.
The trial involved participants, all of whom had a history of depression. Over the course of about a week, participants were administered either prucalopride or a placebo. The findings indicated that the group receiving the medication showed improvements in memory, attention, and thinking speed tests.
How Prucalopride Interacts With the Brain
Prucalopride is a medication used to treat constipation. The drug targets a serotonin receptor found in both the gut and the brain.
During this trial, the researchers observed no significant side effects, suggesting the drug was well-tolerated by the participants in the study cohort.
Addressing the Cognitive Burden of Depression
Next Steps in Clinical Research
While the results from this study are encouraging, it is essential to interpret them within the context of the trial’s size and duration. The study was small and lasted about one week.
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