Many patients with depression often have attention and memory problems. This cognitive dysfunction tends to persist even after mood symptoms have improved. A new study published in Biological Psychiatry reports that modafinil, an eugeroic drug that is used to treat narcolepsy may help improve these patients’ memory. The study was conducted by researchers from Cambridge University, UK.
Benefits
Many people who have depression suffer from attention and memory deficits that can make it difficult to function normally. Even after depressive symptoms have remitted, these cognitive problems can persist, which can be very frustrating for patients and hinder their recovery.
New research from the University of Cambridge suggests that a medication commonly used to treat narcolepsy, Modalert 200mg Australia (also known as Adrafinil), may improve these memory issues for people recovering from depression. The study, which is published in the journal Biological Psychiatry: CNNI, found that the addition of Modalert to depression treatment improved patients’ ability to memorize words and images.
The researchers believe the beneficial effects of Modalert on memory could be linked to its impact on hippocampus-dependent learning and memory processes.
Past studies have shown that Modalert administration promotes hippocampal LTP maintenance and increases precursor cell proliferation, while suppressing excessive autophagy and apoptosis. This may explain why Modalert has been shown to improve spatial memory performance and reduce depressive-like behavior in OVX mice.
Dosage
A low dose of Modalert, which is equivalent to the amount of the medication used in humans for depression treatment, prevented a decline in LTP maintenance and neurogenesis in the hippocampus.
The anti-depressant, pro-cognitive effects of Modalert may be partly mediated by its ability to promote hippocampal plasticity. However, the exact brain targets and mechanisms of Modalert are not yet fully understood.
Modafinil 200 Australia likely influences several neurotransmitter pathways, such as the dopamine, NMDA, and GABAergic systems. Activation of GABAA receptors remarkably reversed Modalert anti-depressant effects and boosted of neurogenesis in OVX mice.45,46
“Many patients with remitted depression continue to struggle in attention and memory functions,” Burdick tells Psychiatric News. “Our research suggests that a subset of these individuals can be helped by improving their cognitive function.” (Psychiatric News is a sister publication of Scientific American.)
Side Effects
Almost all patients suffering from depression experience problems with attention and memory. These symptoms can persist after remission of the depressive episode and affect work performance, social relationships, and risk for relapse.
However, not many treatment strategies are available for improving these symptoms once depression has remitted. Fortunately, a study published in Biological Psychiatry: CNNI suggests that the drug modafinil may be effective for alleviating these cognitive deficits.
Using a placebo-controlled trial, researchers discovered that low doses of the medication improved depression-related cognitive performance in depressed individuals.
This effect was observed in both remitted and unremitted participants. The medication also increased the activity of new neurons in the hippocampus and promoted hippocampal-dependent memory formation.
These effects were attributed to the modulation of neurotransmitter systems involved in memory and depression.
Modafinil affects the release of several neurotransmitters, including dopamine, norepinephrine, orexin, serotonin, glutamate, and GABA. Its antidepressant-like effects and promotion of memory are mediated by its actions on dopamine D1 and D2 receptors, as well as the inhibition of apoptosis and excessive autophagy in the hippocampus.
The study included 62 adults with mood disorders. They were randomly assigned to receive either placebo or moderate doses of modafinil for 8 weeks. They were evaluated at each visit through clinician-administered self-report and clinical measures. Additionally, the patients underwent a battery of laboratory tests.
Conclusions
The research team at the University of Cambridge has found that a drug traditionally used to treat excessive sleepiness caused by narcolepsy can also help improve the memory of people who are suffering from depression.
This is good news as the memory problems associated with depression can often persist after mood symptoms have improved. Currently available treatments do not specifically address these cognitive deficits, so finding an effective way to improve them would be useful.
The researchers believe that MODAFINIL’s improvement of depressive patients’ memories may be partly due to the fact that it promotes hippocampal neurogenesis. This is important because a lack of new neurons in the adult hippocampus negatively impacts memory formation, and has been shown to be an independent risk factor for depression.
It is important to take Modalert exactly as prescribed by the doctor. You should not drink alcohol with this medicine, as it can interfere with its function and increase the side effects like drowsiness, dizziness etc.
It is also advisable to avoid consuming herbal and Ayurvedic medicines and supplements, as they may interact with the medication and increase its effectiveness.
