Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatryJul 20, 2026

Antidepressants may help treat Alzheimer's and Parkinson's by reducing brain inflammation

Longevity & Aging Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Jul 21, 2026

Abstract

Antidepressants may exhibit anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects relevant for neurodegenerative diseases.

Neurodegenerative diseases are linked to chronic neuroinflammation and oxidative stress.
Conventional therapies mainly offer symptomatic relief without addressing the disease mechanisms.
Preclinical studies indicate that various antidepressants can reduce markers of inflammation and enhance neuroprotective signaling.
Some clinical findings show that certain antidepressants may provide cognitive or symptomatic benefits, especially in patients with depression.
Antidepressants may carry risks, including anticholinergic effects and potential interference with neuronal processes.

Simplified

Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), are characterized by progressive cognitive and motor decline, largely driven by chronic neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. Conventional therapies primarily provide symptomatic relief without targeting underlying disease mechanisms. Emerging evidence suggests that antidepressants, beyond their canonical role in mood regulation, exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neurotrophic effects that may modulate disease progression. Preclinical studies demonstrate that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) can reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines, attenuate glial activation, enhance neurotrophic signaling, and improve cognitive and motor function in experimental models of AD and PD. Clinical findings are mixed, with some antidepressants showing modest cognitive or symptomatic benefits, particularly in patients with comorbid depression, while others may pose risks due to anticholinergic effects or interference with neuronal autophagy. This narrative review synthesizes mechanistic and translational evidence on the off-label use of antidepressants for neurodegenerative diseases, highlighting the potential of drug repurposing to target neuroinflammation and support neuroprotection, while emphasizing the need for careful patient-specific therapy selection.

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Funding

Competing interests

No competing interests reported.

PubMed

Antidepressants may help treat Alzheimer's and Parkinson's by reducing brain inflammation

Abstract

Full Text

Funding

Competing interests

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