The effects of trazodone on human cognition: a systematic review

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021

Authors

Gonçalo, AMG (Author) Other; vieira-coelho, ma (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

ISSN: 0031-6970

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

Scopus - 5 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00V-1AC

DOI: 10.1007/s00228-021-03161-6

Abstract (EN): Trazodone is a widely used antidepressant that is also useful in the control of agitation and insomnia in Alzheimer's disease. This drug is now recognized as having a new mechanism of action, an effect on the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway, restoring protein translation and slowing neurodegenerative progression in mice. This mechanism may have a role in dementia-modifying treatment. To explore the effects of trazodone on human cognition and to search for clinical evidence of its putative benefits in human neurodegenerative diseases, a systematic review was conducted for studies that evaluated the effect of a minimum dose of 25 mg of trazodone daily, for at least 1 week, on cognition in adult humans. The search was run in MEDLINE, Web of Science, and CENTRAL from the Cochrane databases, yielding a total of 16 studies after selection. Overall, seven studies showed no effect of trazodone on cognition, five showed a beneficial effect by improving or reducing cognitive decline, and four evidenced impaired cognitive function. Our analysis highlights the possibility of a dose-independent dual effect of trazodone on human cognition, with acute utilization associated with impaired cognitive function and long-term use with preventing cognitive deterioration. There was no clinical evidence that trazodone could be used as a specific treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Future studies should explore the role of trazodone in the UPR pathway and the implications in neurodegenerative diseases in humans. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific