Laxative drug could ease depression-related brain fog, early trial suggests

Article excerpt

An early trial suggests a licensed laxative drug used to treat chronic constipation may help ease depression-related brain fog, including memory and attention problems. Researchers found the medication, already approved for digestive issues, could offer relief to the roughly one-third of people with depression who experience cognitive symptoms. The finding is preliminary, early-stage research often fails to translate to clinical benefit, but it points to a potential repurposing of an existing, safe medication. If confirmed in larger trials, the approach could spare patients from developing new drugs, offering a faster path to treatment for a symptom that many antidepressants don't adequately address.