The Possible Application of Ketamine in the Treatment of Depression in Alzheimer’s Disease
Neurology International June 23, 2022 Islam Mohammad Shehata, Waniyah Masood, Nouran Nemr et al. 41 citations
Depression affects 3.8% of the global population, with higher rates in older adults. Evidence links depression to Alzheimer's disease (AD), but conventional antidepressants, especially SSRIs, show conflicting efficacy in AD patients. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of 25 randomized controlled trials found no high efficacy of fourteen antidepressant medications for AD symptoms. Ketamine, a nonselective NMDA receptor antagonist, has multiple effects including neuroprotection and antidepressant properties. Esketamine nasal spray was FDA-approved in 2019 for treatment-resistant depression. NMDA receptor antagonists may treat AD by counteracting pathological glutamate receptor stimulation. Recent findings suggest ketamine could provide neuroprotection and reduce neuropsychiatric symptoms in AD. This investigation evaluates ketamine's potential role and mechanism in AD management.