Effects of subanesthetic repeated esketamine infusions on memory function and NGF in patients with depression: An open-label study.
Qiongyao Yang, Yitan Yao, Xiaoping Yuan, Chuanchuan Chen, Yue Wang, Huanzhong Liu, Kai Zhang
Journal of Affective Disorders January 15, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.09.162 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Open-label trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 132 |
| Population | Patients with depression |
| Intervention | Esketamine |
| Dose | 0.4 mg/kg |
| Duration | 11 days |
| Topics | Depression Ketamine Esketamine |
| Keywords | Antidepressant Cognition Nerve growth factor Depression treatment Ketamine therapy Mental health research Cognitive enhancement Neuroscience advances |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | Esketamine infusions improved depressive symptoms and memory function, and increased plasma NGF levels, with baseline memory function negatively associated with NGF changes. |
Abstract
Subanesthetic ketamine is a rapidly acting antidepressant, yet the effects of ketamine on cognitive function are inconsistent. The primary objective of this study was to explore the effects of esketamine on memory function and plasma levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) in patients with depression. A total of 132 patients with depression completed six intravenous esketamine infusions (0.4 mg/kg) over 11 days. Depressive symptoms and neurocognitive function were assessed using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Plasma NGF levels were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mean MADRS score of depressed patients decreased from 32.11 ± 10.06 to 15.10 ± 8.62 after six infusions. Significant improvement in immediate memory, language, attention, and delayed memory were observed. NGF plasma levels increased from 226.13 ± 61.73 to 384.37 ± 56.89. Pearson's correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between memory function and NGF levels at baseline. The baseline memory function was negatively associated with the changes in NGF levels. The major limitation of this study is the open-label design. Subanesthetic esketamine infusions could improve depressive symptoms and neurocognitive function. Our study showed increased plasma NGF levels in depressed patients after treatment, suggesting that NGF may play a role in the improvement of memory function by esketamine.