Psychoplastogens: A Novel Therapeutic Approach for Neurological Diseases and Disorders

Neurological diseases often involve changes in synaptic connectivity and plasticity. Psychoplastogens, substances that stimulate neuronal growth and enhance neural structures, show promise in mitigating these changes. They activate key biological targets, including AMPA receptors, TrkB, and mTOR. Substances like ketamine, scopolamine, ,-dimethyltryptamine, and rapastinel have psychoplastogenic properties. In clinical trials, psychedelic psychoplastogens have demonstrated antidepressant, anxiolytic, and anti-addictive effects. The research described in this Patent Highlight suggests the potential for novel therapies in neurological disorders that leverage psychoplastogens, which modulate synaptic connections and plasticity.