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Currently, fampridine is prescribed to enhance walking capabilities in people with multiple sclerosis. A recent study reveals that it might also assist those experiencing diminished working memory, often seen in mental health issues like schizophrenia or depression.
When we need to remember a code long enough to input it or engage in conversation while responding suitably to the discussion, we rely on our working memory. This cognitive function enables us to hold onto memories for a brief period. However, certain mental health conditions, including schizophrenia, depression, and ADHD, can hinder working memory, leading individuals to lose track in conversations and have difficulties organizing their thoughts.
Fampridine is a medication that could be beneficial for these individuals, as demonstrated by a team of researchers, led by Professor Andreas Papassotiropoulos and Professor Dominique de Quervain from the University of Basel. Their research has been published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.
Only Effective for Those with Impaired Working Memory
In this study, the team evaluated fampridine’s effect on working memory among 43 healthy volunteers. They discovered that participants with initially low working memory showed significant improvement after just three days of taking the drug, outperforming those who received a placebo. Conversely, among individuals with already high working memory, the medication did not have any effect.
The researchers also noted that fampridine heightened brain excitability in all subjects, allowing for quicker processing of information. This study employed a randomized, double-blind design.
Repurposed Medication for New Uses
“Fampridine does not enhance working memory for everyone. However, it has potential as a treatment for those with impaired working memory,” states Andreas Papassotiropoulos. Dominique de Quervain adds, “That’s why we’re collaborating with researchers from the University Psychiatric Clinics Basel (UPK) to further investigate fampridine’s effects in cases of schizophrenia and depression.”
Currently, fampridine is utilized to enhance mobility in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Especially in its capsule form, which gradually releases the active ingredient, fampridine has shown benefits in cognitive performance among MS patients, helping to alleviate the mental fatigue associated with the condition.
The researchers carefully selected this medication after conducting extensive analyses on genome data to identify candidates for repurposing established drugs. Fampridine influences specific ion channels in nerve cells that, according to their findings, may also be implicated in mental disorders such as schizophrenia.
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