Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects 7-8% of the general population, and its prevalence rose to 30% during the COVID-19 pandemic among both COVID patients and healthcare workers. Scientists from the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University have demonstrated laboratory evidence suggesting that clonidine, a commonly used hypertension and ADHD medication, could provide immediate treatment to people with PTSD . The study was performed using genetically modified mice and human-induced stem cells and revealed a novel α2A adrenergic receptor (AR)-spinophilin-cofilin axis in the hippocampus that is critical for regulating contextual fear memory reconsolidation.
Adrenergic drugs like clonidine reduce blood levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine by binding to these AR receptors. The study also indicated modulation of dendritic spine morphology to be an effective way to develop…
