In a follow-up to a research conducted earlier in the Yale University, scientists have explained how the drug Ketamine provides immediate relief to patients suffering from chronic depression. According to the newly discovered evidence, this drug aids in the reconstruction of the synaptic connections in the brain cells that have been destroyed by chronic depression.
How Ketamine functions
Ketamine takes a different approach when it comes to reliving stress different from the one taken by the regular antidepressants which take long before they can alleviate the symptoms. These regular antidepressants have been observed to be less inefficient as they fail to work in all patients. With the current insights into the functionality of Ketamine in the brain, there is optimism that a new generation of antidepressants will be developed providing a solution to millions affected by chronic depression.
Importance of this discovery
Experts cite this breakthrough as the most important when it comes to depression treatment in a long time. These insights are crucial as they will help unravel the existing drug’s shortcomings. In the meantime however, Robert Duman and other researchers who co-authored the findings, hail the drug especially in its ability to cause the release of glutamate, which in an essential neurotransmitter, further leading to the development of synapses in the brain. This process occurs in a series of step which are now clearer to the experts thanks to this research.
Prior research on the linkage between Ketamine and depression relief had been carried out in the Connecticut Mental Health Center. It is this study that theorized on the efficacy of the drug and laid the foundations to this major discovery. Attempts to create a drug that delivers similar results to Ketamine have infused more optimism although they have not produced prompt results as Ketamine. With time however, there are hopes that a drug that offers similar relief with timely efficacy will be developed.
