A drug could reverse the effects of sleep deprivation in the brain, a US study of monkeys has suggested.
The drug comes from a class of molecules called ampakines which enhance how some chemical receptors work in the brain.
It helped monkeys overcome their lack of sleep, the study in the Public Library of Science – Biology showed. Researchers from North Carolina’s Wake Forest University hope it could help people like doctors and shift workers.
The drug, currently known as CX717, is designed to act on a type of chemical receptor that is involved in cell-to-cell communication involving the neurotransmitter glutamate. The drug prolongs the action of glutamate, allowing more effective communication.
Samuel Deadwyler, of who led the Wake Forest University School of Medicine research, said: “The drug didn’t cause overall brain arousal, but increased the ability of certain affected areas to become active in a normal, non-sleep-deprived manner.”
He added: “It’s possible that ampakines could also be used to enhance other cognitive deficits, such as occur in Alzheimer’s disease, after a stroke or other forms of dementia.”
The researchers said the drug did not appear to be linked to side effects such as hyperactivity, distorted thinking or extended wakefulness.
The drug’s manufacturer, Cortex Pharmaceuticals, has also reported positive results from tests on sleep-deprived humans with positive results.
Dr Neil Stanley, of the British Sleep Society, who was involved in the human study, said: “The more we know about the brain, the more medicines can be targeted.
“Ampakines are an exciting class of drugs.”
“If you can keep the brain thriving, more people may have benefits than shift workers – it may have benefits for people with conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.”
Reference – BBC News, WebMD, Medical News Today
