Denmark: An original investigation published in JAMA Psychiatry has answered a key point of serotonin 4 (5-HT4) receptor alteration in depression and its association with memory dysfunction. The researchers concluded that this receptor is a potential treatment target for managing major depressive disorder and improving cognitive symptoms.
5-HT4 receptor is a target for major depressive disorder (MDD), and its pharmacological stimulation can improve learning and memory in healthy individuals.

The researchers measured the association between 5-HT4 receptor binding and verbal memory performance while Other cognitive domains were secondary outcomes.
The study points are:
The data was used from the NeuroPharm clinical depression trial in Denmark.
There were untreated MDD patients and healthy controls included in the study.
To quantify receptor binding, positron emission tomography (PET) scanning was completed with [11C]SB207145.
Data were analysed from January 21, 2020, to April 22, 2022.
The group difference in receptor binding between patients and healthy controls was the main outcome measured in the study.
90 MDD patients with a mean age of 27.1 years, including 64 women and 91 healthy controls, including 55 women, were included in the analysis.
MDD patients (current) had lower cerebral 5-HT4 receptor binding. (−7.0%).
There was a correlation between cerebral 5-HT4 receptor binding and verbal memory in MDD patients.
To conclude, cerebral 5-HT4 receptor binding was lower in MDD patients.
Memory dysfunction in MDD patients was associated with lower cerebral 5-HT4 receptor binding.
Further reading:
Köhler-Forsberg K, Dam VH, Ozenne B, et al. Serotonin 4 Receptor Brain Binding in Major Depressive Disorder and Association With Memory Dysfunction. JAMA Psychiatry. Published online February 08, 2023.doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.4539