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Home/Research/Esketamine/Neurocognitive Disorders

Esketamine for Neurocognitive Disorders

4 papers and 4 clinical trials exploring esketamine as a treatment for neurocognitive disorders.

Compounddissociative

Esketamine

Esketamine (Spravato) is the S-enantiomer of ketamine, approved as an intranasal treatment for treatment-resistant depression and MDD with acute suicidal ideation. It is administered under clinical supervision with post-dose monitoring and has reached over $1.6 billion in annual sales.

Full Esketamine profile
IndicationOver 50 million people worldwide suffering from dementia-related disorders.

Neurocognitive Disorders

Neurocognitive disorders, including conditions like dementia and Alzheimer's disease, are characterized by a significant decline in cognitive function. Recent research suggests that psychedelics may offer potential therapeutic benefits by promoting neuronal connectivity and enhancing psychological recovery in these patients.

Full Neurocognitive Disorders profile

Academic Research

4 papers
Open Accessindividual

Short-term cognitive effects of repeated-dose esketamine in adolescents with major depressive disorder and suicidal ideation: a randomized controlled trial

In a randomised controlled trial of 51 adolescents with major depressive disorder and suicidal ideation, three subanaesthetic esketamine infusions (0.25 mg/kg) did not impair cognition and were associated with improved processing speed and some improvement in working memory by Day 12. Baseline cognitive performance did not predict antidepressant or antisuicidal response.

Published
September 14, 2023
Journal
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Authors
Lan, X-F., Wang, C-Y., Zhang, F., Liu, H., Mai, S., Ning, Y-P., Zhou, Y-L., Hu, Z., Li, W., Ye, Y.
Paywallmeta

Acute effects of ketamine and esketamine on cognition in healthy subjects: A meta-analysis

This meta-analysis assessed the effects of ketamine administration in healthy participants (n=1,041) on several cognitive domains. Deficits in verbal learning/memory were most prominent, whereas response inhibition was the least affected. Negative effects were dependent on infusion dose and plasma level but unaffected by enantiomer type, route of administration, sex or age.

Published
August 1, 2022
Journal
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry
Authors
Zhornitsky, S., Pelletier, R., Assaf, R., Potvin, S., Li, C-S., Tourjaman, V.
Paywallindividual

Neurocognitive aspects of ketamine and esketamine on subjects with treatment-resistant depression: A comparative, randomized and double-blind study

This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (n=54) finds that both esketamine and (racemic) ketamine improve cognition immediately and up to 7 days later for those suffering from depression (TRD). There were virtually no differences between both subgroups. The study found improvements in executive functions, processing speed, and more.

Published
September 1, 2021
Journal
Psychiatry Research
Authors
Araújo-de-Freitas, L., Santos-Lima, C., Mendonça-Filho, E., Vieira, F., França, R. J. A. F., Magnavita, G., Cardoso, T. L., Correia-Melo, F. S., Leal, G. C., Jesus-Nunes, A. P., Souza-Marques, B., Marback, R. F., Teles, M., Echegaray, M. VF., Beanes, G., Guerreiro-Costa, L. N. F., Mello, R. P., Rabanea, T., Lucchese, C., Abreu, N., Lacerda, A. L. T., Quarantini, L. C.
Open Accessmeta

Intranasal drug delivery in neuropsychiatry: focus on intranasal ketamine for refractory depression

This article (2015) examines the advantages and applications of intranasal drug delivery, with a particular focus on the potential of intranasal ketamine for the acute and maintenance therapy of refractory depression. The article contrasts intranasal delivery to oral and sublingual delivery methods, which are less effective with regards to their bioavailability, crossing of the blood-brain-barrier, and rapid onset of drug effects.

Published
January 1, 2015
Journal
Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
Authors
Andrade, C.

Clinical Trials

4 trials
Not yet recruitingPhase NA

Intranasal Dexmedetomidine-Esketamine for Sleep and Cognition in Older Adults With Mild-to-Moderate Cognitive Impairment

This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (n=60) will assess whether an intranasal dexmedetomidine-esketamine combination improves sleep quality and cognitive function in older adults aged 60 years and above with mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment and comorbid sleep disorder. The main aim is to evaluate change in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score 1 month after the intervention. Participants will receive either the dexmedetomidine-esketamine nasal spray, calculated at approximately 0.4 μg/kg of dexmedetomidine plus 0.2 mg/kg of esketamine, or an equal volume of 0.9% normal saline placebo. Administration uses a customised nasal spray device with alternating nostrils every 5 minutes until the target dose is reached, given twice a week for 4 consecutive weeks (8 sessions in total). Safety monitoring during treatment includes ECG, blood pressure, blood oxygen levels and consciousness, and sleep will be recorded by actigraphy on treatment nights, with face-to-face follow-up at 1, 2 and 3 months after treatment to assess sleep, cognition, mood and activities of daily living.

Started
June 1, 2026
Type
interventional
Blinding
quadruple
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT07610343
RecruitingPhase NA

Effect of Low-dose Esketamine on Delirium in High-risk Elderly Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery (ELEMENT)

Double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised trial (n=1670) testing low-dose intraoperative and postoperative esketamine versus placebo to prevent postoperative delirium in high-risk elderly patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery.

Started
February 1, 2025
Type
interventional
Blinding
double
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT06817239
RecruitingPhase NA

Effect of Esketamine on Conscious State in Patients With pDoC

Randomised, quadruple-blind, parallel-group trial (n=116) assessing intraoperative IV esketamine 0.3 mg/kg versus saline on consciousness measures in patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness undergoing surgery under sevoflurane anaesthesia.

Started
May 1, 2024
Type
interventional
Blinding
quadruple
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT06389344
CompletedPhase I

Esketamine for the Treatment of Rett Syndrome

This interventional trial (n=3) will assess the efficacy and safety of esketamine for the treatment of Rett Syndrome (RTT) in children aged 5 to 10 years.

Started
November 15, 2023
Type
interventional
Blinding
none
Randomized
No
Registry ID
NCT06199700

Explore further

Search all Esketamine papers Search all Neurocognitive Disorders trials Full Esketamine profile Full Neurocognitive Disorders profile