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Ketamine shows lasting antidepressant effects for 3+ months in rats, while ibogaine emerges as the strongest psychedelic for treating addiction
From ketamine's surprisingly long-lasting brain changes to psychedelics helping trauma survivors heal, this week's research reveals how these powerful compounds might reshape mental health treatment.
🧠 Ketamine's antidepressant effects last 3+ months in rats through brain rewiring
Researchers gave rats a single dose of either psilocybin or 25CN-NBOH (a selective serotonin 2A receptor activator) and found both reduced depression-like behavior for at least 3 months
Brain slice studies revealed lasting changes in neurons from the medial prefrontal cortex, including altered firing rates and synaptic activity
Surprisingly, these long-term effects occurred without any structural changes to brain connections - suggesting the drugs create enduring functional plasticity rather than growing new neural pathways
Why this matters: These findings suggest psychedelics may produce their therapeutic benefits through persistent changes in how brain circuits function, not just temporary chemical effects. The 3-month duration in rats could translate to even longer benefits in humans, potentially explaining why some patients report lasting improvements from single psychedelic sessions.
Also in this issue:
- 🎯 Ketamine vs esketamine safety comparison reveals similar side effect profiles
- 🌟 Psychedelics help Nova festival attack survivors process collective trauma
- 💊 Ibogaine shows strongest effects for treating substance use disorders
- 🔬 Intranasal R-ketamine changes specific brain networks in healthy volunteers
- 🎪 Ayahuasca components protect brain cells from cocaine damage
- 🏥 Midazolam-ketamine combination outperforms either drug alone for pediatric dental sedation
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