Your Brain On

Your Brain On... Ketamine

8 snips
Dec 4, 2024
Guest
John Krystal
Guest
Gerard Sanacora
In this discussion, Dr. John Krystal, a Yale Psychiatry and Neuroscience Professor, and Dr. Gerard Sanacora, Director of the Yale Depression Research Program, dive into ketamine’s evolution from anesthetic to mental health treatment. They unveil its rapid antidepressant effects, mechanisms influencing neuroplasticity, and potential to combat neurodegenerative diseases. The conversation also highlights risks, individual response variability, and the critical need for careful dosing and monitoring in therapeutic settings.
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INSIGHT

Ketamine's Unexpected Antidepressant Effect

  • Ketamine's antidepressant effects were a surprising discovery during schizophrenia research.
  • It targets glutamate signaling in the cortex, unlike traditional antidepressants focusing on serotonin.
INSIGHT

Novel Antidepressant Mechanism

  • Ketamine's impact on glutamate signaling differs significantly from traditional antidepressants.
  • It represents the first new antidepressant mechanism in 50 years.
INSIGHT

Ketamine's Lasting Effects

  • A single ketamine dose can alleviate depressive symptoms for varying durations (2 days to 2+ weeks).
  • Surprisingly, these effects extend beyond the drug's half-life in the body.
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