This Drug Could Delete Fear. Is It a New Cure for PTSD?

Fear Trapped in Memory

An estimated 3 to 6 percent of the global population suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. That’s millions of people trapped in the labyrinth of their own memories. The biggest nightmare? These razor-sharp images suddenly return, paralyzing them with fear. But why does the brain so stubbornly cling to trauma? New research suggests that the very chemistry of our brains may be to blame. Furthermore, scientists have now identified a way to treat PTSD and break this vicious cycle.

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Astrocytes – The Silent Culprits

A team of researchers from the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) and Ewha Womans University in South Korea has uncovered a surprising suspect: an excess of a specific chemical. This chemical is gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA—a neurotransmitter that typically acts as a brake, calming brain activity. This sounds good, right? Not for people with PTSD. Here, the overabundance of GABA, instead of providing protection, locks the door to forgetting and traps people in their trauma.

What’s even more intriguing is where this chemical blockage comes from. It turns out that GABA isn’t produced by neurons but by astrocytes—cells that for years were dismissed as passive bystanders. Now, they seem to be playing a leading role in the drama of PTSD. Could it be that these cells decide whether a person can let go of the past? Further research on them might just turn our understanding of mental disorders upside down.

A Drug to Restore Balance

The scientists tested a drug called KDS2010—a substance that blocks the enzyme responsible for the overproduction of GABA. The result? In mice with PTSD symptoms, the drug restored normal brain activity, improved blood flow, and—most importantly—allowed the fear response to be extinguished.

The study wasn’t limited to mice, however. The drug has already passed the first phase of human clinical trials and was deemed safe. The next phase of testing is currently underway, and scientists hope it can soon be used in patients. “This is the first study to identify astrocyte-derived GABA as a key pathological factor in the deficit of fear extinction in PTSD,” said Dr. Woojin Won, a co-author of the publication, in an article for Science Daily.

From Brain Scans to Cells

The researchers decided to reverse the traditional sequence. Instead of starting with animal experiments, as is the usual practice, they immediately looked into human brains. Scans clearly showed that people with PTSD have higher levels of GABA and weaker blood flow in areas responsible for controlling fear. In other words, their brains function like an alarm system that never shuts off.

Only later did the scientists go a level deeper, into the cells. There, they discovered the source of the problem—astrocytes, which until now were treated as a quiet backdrop for neurons. But it turned out that they might be the ones holding all the cards in the game of human memory and fear.

“This is an example of a reverse approach: from the patient to the lab, and not the other way around,” explained Professor Justin Lee, the project head. He stressed that the study could be the beginning of a new therapeutic paradigm—and not just for PTSD. It opens the door to treating other neuropsychiatric disorders, including anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.

A New Paradigm

The team plans further research on therapies targeting astrocytes. If all goes as planned, KDS2010 could become the first drug that truly helps people with PTSD forget trauma, rather than just suppressing it. This is more than a scientific breakthrough; it’s a chance for millions of people who struggle with a traumatic past every day to regain their peace of mind.

Read the original article: Ten lek usuwa strach z pamięci. Czy pomoże w leczeniu PTSD?