Catalyst Awardee

Project Description

Prevention of Dementia in Elderly People by the Novel Antidepressant Arketamine

Kenji Hashimoto, PhD Chiba University
Competition Sponsor: Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
Awardee Year: 2020

The number of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is increasing worldwide. However, there are no prophylactic drugs for dementia. It is well known that elderly depression is a risk factor for dementia as well as a prodromal (MCI: mild cognitive impairment) of dementia. Given a risk factor of depression in dementia, we propose the hypothesis that the novel antidepressant arketamine [(R)-ketamine] can block or delay the onset of dementia in elderly people with depression. This project has high originality and innovation since I am the inventor of the filed patent of arketamine in depression and dementia including AD. This project will have a high impact in elderly people and their family in the world if arketamine can block or delay the onset of dementia in elderly people with depression.

To learn more about this proposal email healthylongevity@nas.edu.

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