Lifting the black cloud.

• Autores: Robin Marantz Henig
• Localización: Scientific American, ISSN 0036-8733, Vol. 306, Nº. 3, 2012, págs. 66-71
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • The article discusses research into the development of faster and more effective antidepressant drugs to replace selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). An overview of the antidepressant effects of the drug ketamine is provided, including its induction of synaptic growth and transmission in the prefrontal cortex, activation of mTOR neural enzymes, and inhibition of the neurotransmitter glutamate from acting on NMDA receptors. Other promising therapeutic candidates include scopolamine for blocking the binding of acetylcholine to muscarinic receptors in the brain, and cytokine antagonists that reduce chronic inflammation commonly linked to depression. INSETS: A Huge Gap;A Huge Gap.