The Fastest Depression Treatment in History
Using a 180-year-old drug, it becomes
Depression affects millions of people worldwide, leaving many struggling to find an effective treatment. In fact, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that 21 million adults in the United States have experienced at least one major depressive episode. Finding a cure is often a challenge, but scientists have discovered an unexpected solution.
While traditional treatments, such as psychotherapy and medication, help some, they fail nearly a third of patients. Traditional antidepressants often take weeks to take effect—if they work at all—leaving many to endure a long, painful wait for results.
The Fastest Depression Treatment
New research suggests that nitrous oxide, commonly known as "laughing gas," may provide a fast-acting alternative for treatment-resistant depression.
Scientists at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered a new and surprising mechanism behind nitrous oxide's antidepressant effects, according to Interesting Engineering. This centuries-old anesthetic, once used for its calming and pain-relieving properties, has proven to be more than just a tool for dentists and surgeons.
The study reveals that nitrous oxide can induce a profound and immediate response in specific brain cells, offering new hope for those who have struggled with conventional treatments.
Uncovering the Historically Hidden Mechanism
Scientists believed that nitrous oxide worked by blocking NMDA receptors, which are present in virtually all brain cells and play a crucial role in pain management and communication between neurons.
However, a team led by Dr. Cichon at the University of Pennsylvania discovered a different process. Their research identified layer 5 neurons deep within the gray matter of the cingulate cortex, a brain region responsible for regulating emotions and behavior. "We were trying to unlock the secrets of these layer 5 neurons," Cichon said. "This wasn't part of the old assumptions about nitrous oxide, and it turns what we thought we knew upside down."
An Alarm Bell for the Brain
In collaboration with researchers from the University of Chicago and Washington University in St. Louis, the team tested nitrous oxide on mice exposed to stressful conditions. The mice inhaled the gas through masks for an hour, leading to an unexpected reaction. Instead of calming the brain, the nitrous oxide activated the L5 neurons almost immediately.
Cichon explained, "Most anesthetics calm the brain, and then the effects of the anesthetic wear off. But this one completely changes things. These cells start working like crazy and continue working even after the gas wears off. That was a big surprise."
After treatment, the mice showed improved behavior, moving more and voluntarily drinking sweetened water, a sign of increased pleasure and interaction.
The researchers identified SK2 potassium channels in the L5 neurons as a key factor. These channels normally allow Potassium ions can exit the cells, calming them.
However, nitrous oxide blocks these channels, keeping neurons active and leading to a rapid improvement in mood. This discovery questions the outdated theory of NMDA receptors and offers new insights into how nitrous oxide relieves depression.
Rapid Relief
One in three people with depression do not respond to traditional antidepressants, and current medications often take weeks to show effects. Nitrous oxide, on the other hand, works almost immediately, with effects lasting for hours or even a full day.
Human trials conducted by Dr. Peter Nagel of the University of Chicago and Dr. Charles Zoromski of Washington University in St. Louis have also confirmed that nitrous oxide provides rapid relief for patients with treatment-resistant depression.
