Exploring the Neuroprotective and Neuropsychiatric Symptom Management Potential of Ketamine in Alzheimer's Disease.

Ketamine, an anesthetic that blocks NMDA receptors, may offer new ways to manage Alzheimer's disease by improving communication between brain cells and reducing inflammation. The review describes how ketamine could help with depression and agitation that often accompany Alzheimer's, though these results are still preliminary and more research is needed to confirm its safety and effectiveness.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline, synaptic dysfunction, and neuroinflammation. Despite extensive research, current therapeutic options offer limited symptomatic relief without altering disease progression. Ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist traditionally used as an anesthetic, has garnered attention for its rapid-acting antidepressant effects and potential neuroprotective properties. This narrative review examines ketamine's emerging role in AD, focusing on its mechanisms of action, including modulation of glutamatergic transmission, enhancement of synaptic plasticity via brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) pathways, and attenuation of neuroinflammatory processes. This paper also explores ketamine's efficacy in managing neuropsychiatric symptoms prevalent in AD, such as depression and agitation. While preliminary findings are promising, further research is necessary to establish ketamine's safety and efficacy in this context.