Multiple sclerosis drug can help working memory
Published: Tuesday, Nov 19th 2024, 10:20
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A drug for multiple sclerosis could help people with reduced working memory. According to a study, this could make it easier for those affected to remember codes or take part in conversations, for example.
The drug fampridine has so far been used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), as the University of Basel wrote on its website. According to the study, it could also help people with reduced working memory, as occurs in mental illnesses such as schizophrenia or depression.
Working memory comes into play when we briefly remember a code in order to type it in, have a conversation and react appropriately to what is said. It keeps a memory active for a few seconds. Some illnesses such as schizophrenia or depression, but also ADHD, restrict working memory. Those affected lose their train of thought in conversations and have difficulty organizing their thoughts.
Researchers led by Professor Andreas Papassotiropoulos and Professor Dominique de Quervain from the Department of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Basel have shown that the drug fampridine can provide a remedy in such cases. The research team recently reported on this in the journal "Molecular Psychiatry", as the university wrote on its website on Monday.
Effect after three days
In their study, the researchers tested the effect of fampridine on working memory in 43 healthy adults. Fampridine was particularly effective in those participants who already had a low level of working memory to begin with: after taking the drug for three days, they performed better in the corresponding tests than when taking placebo. The drug enabled faster processing of stimuli. In contrast, fampridine had no effect on people who already had a good working memory, according to the report.
However, fampridine is not a means of strengthening working memory in everyone. But it could be a treatment option for reduced working memory. Researchers at the University Psychiatric Clinics Basel (UPK) are now planning studies to test the efficacy of fampridine in schizophrenia and depression.
Further study on Long Covid
To date, the drug has been used to improve walking ability in multiple sclerosis (MS). For some, fampridine alleviates the mental fatigue that can accompany MS.
The drug is also being tested at UPK Basel for its efficacy in log Covid. The aim is to alleviate the cognitive disorders that are among the long-term consequences of a coronavirus infection. The drug belongs to the group of so-called potassium channel blockers and prevents potassium ions from flowing out of damaged nerve cells.
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