Researchers Are Unraveling How Ketamine Works as an Antidepressant in the Brain

(Credit: Kumpol Vashiraaskorn/Shutterstock) Ketamine is making headlines left and right, and for good reason. The drug, once popular as both an anesthetic and among party-goers, has recently gained traction as a treatment for depression. In fact, the FDA approved the first ketamine antidepressant just a few weeks ago. Despite its rise, ketamine still has some unresolved issues: its effects don’t last very long and the reasons behind why it works as an antidepressant are unclear. Now, a new paper in Science has revealed some of the mechanisms behind how the drug works in the brain and points to potential ways to extend its benefits. Using mice as a model for depression, an international team of researchers set up a number of experiments to get a glimpse at how the compound impacts the brain. To get inside the organ, the group relied on advanced microscopic brain imaging, focusing on a region ...