People struggling with depression often continue to experience memory problems, poor concentration, and mental "brain fog" even after their mood improves. Now, researchers say an existing prescription drug approved to treat chronic constipation may also help improve those lingering cognitive symptoms.
The findings, published in Psychological Medicine, come from an experimental study led by Dr. Angharad de Cates of the University of Birmingham in collaboration with researchers at the University of Oxford. The team explored whether a licensed laxative could improve thinking and memory, which are commonly affected in depression and other mental health conditions.
Constipation Drug Tested for Depression Brain Fog
The researchers studied prucalopride, a medication currently approved for chronic constipation. The drug works by activating a specific serotonin receptor (the fourth serotonin receptor, or 5-HT4 R) found in both the gut and the brain. The research was supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre: Oxford Health.
The clinical trial enrolled 50 adults with a history of depression. Participants had previously experienced depressive episodes but had recovered at least six months before joining the study and were not taking medication at the time. They were randomly assigned to receive either 2mg of prucalopride, the standard licensed dose for chronic constipation, or a placebo for between 7-10 days.
