Tal Erdinast

New Drug Targets Brain Glial Cells to Reverse PTSD Symptoms PTSD patients often struggle to forget traumatic memories, even when the danger has passed. New research has uncovered that astrocytes, not neurons, are producing excessive GABA in the medial prefrontal cortex, impairing fear extinction. This discovery shifts the focus from serotonin-based treatments to glial cell mechanisms. Using the MAOB inhibitor KDS2010, researchers successfully reversed PTSD-like symptoms in mice. The drug reduced GABA levels and restored normal blood flow and brain activity. These findings could reshape PTSD treatment by targeting the cellular origins of fear memory persistence. neurosciencenews.com/glial-cells-pt…

📉 (3/3) Importantly, the spike in ADHD-like symptoms among the control group declined over time, suggesting that the effect was temporary.

😮 Surprising finding from our new study: After a national traumatic event, young adults with ADHD showed a slight improvement in symptoms — while those without ADHD showed a clear increase in ADHD-like symptoms. 📘 The study, just published in the Journal of Attention Disorders (JAD), examined how national trauma affects inattention and impulsivity/hyperactivity symptoms in young adults not directly exposed to the event. 🔗 Full article here: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10… @shaharnitzan

👉 (2/3) Why did the ADHD group show a slight improvement in symptoms? One possible explanation is the State Regulation Model, which suggests that individuals with ADHD struggle to maintain optimal arousal levels. In this case, the traumatic event may have acted as a moderate stressor, raising arousal to a more optimal level — improving cognitive performance and reducing symptoms. 🧑‍💻 This aligns with lab studies showing that high event rates (a form of mild stress) can increase arousal and enhance performance in individuals with ADHD.

👉 (1/3) We originally hypothesized that trauma-related stress would increase symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity in both groups. But the results surprised us.