Scientists at Karolinska Institutet have found that duloxetine, a commonly used antidepressant, may also have benefits for memory and thinking abilities in older adults.
Their findings, published in the journal ACS Omega, suggest that this drug might even help prevent dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Duloxetine is already approved for treating depression, but researchers have discovered that it also blocks an enzyme linked to memory and brain function. This could mean that, beyond improving mood, it may also protect against cognitive decline.
Dr. Taher Darreh-Shori, a senior researcher at Karolinska Institutet, explained that depression and memory problems often appear together in older adults, especially those in the early stages of dementia.
Since duloxetine seems to target both issues, the discovery is exciting.
“This was an unexpected finding in our research,” Dr. Darreh-Shori said. “We now hope to test duloxetine in a clinical study with patients in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.”
This discovery is significant because there are currently no medications that can cure dementia. If an already approved drug like duloxetine can help with both depression and memory loss, it could be a valuable treatment option.
This would be welcomed by both doctors and elderly care organizations, as it could provide new hope for managing cognitive decline in aging populations.
If you care about depression, please read studies about how dairy foods may influence depression risk, and B vitamins could help prevent depression and anxiety.
For more information about mental health, please see recent studies that ultra-processed foods may make you feel depressed, and extra-virgin olive oil could reduce depression symptoms.
The research findings can be found in ACS Omega.
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