TY - JOUR
T1 - Neuroprotective effects and therapeutic potential of transcorneal electrical stimulation for depression
AU - Yu, Wing Shan
AU - Kwon, So Hyun
AU - Agadagba, Stephen Kugbere
AU - Chan, Leanne Lai Hang
AU - Wong, Kah Hui
AU - Lim, Lee Wei
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
PY - 2021/9
Y1 - 2021/9
N2 - Transcorneal electrical stimulation (TES) has emerged as a non‐invasive neuromodulation approach that exerts neuroprotection via diverse mechanisms, including neurotrophic, neuro-plastic, anti‐inflammatory, anti‐apoptotic, anti‐glutamatergic, and vasodilation mechanisms. Although current studies of TES have mainly focused on its applications in ophthalmology, several lines of evidence point towards its putative use in treating depression. Apart from stimulating visual‐related structures and promoting visual restoration, TES has also been shown to activate brain regions that are involved in mood alterations and can induce antidepressant‐like behaviour in animals. The beneficial effects of TES in depression were further supported by its shared mechanisms with FDA‐approved antidepressant treatments, including its neuroprotective properties against apoptosis and inflammation, and its ability to enhance the neurotrophic expression. This article critically reviews the current findings on the neuroprotective effects of TES and provides evidence to support our hypothesis that TES possesses antidepressant effects.
AB - Transcorneal electrical stimulation (TES) has emerged as a non‐invasive neuromodulation approach that exerts neuroprotection via diverse mechanisms, including neurotrophic, neuro-plastic, anti‐inflammatory, anti‐apoptotic, anti‐glutamatergic, and vasodilation mechanisms. Although current studies of TES have mainly focused on its applications in ophthalmology, several lines of evidence point towards its putative use in treating depression. Apart from stimulating visual‐related structures and promoting visual restoration, TES has also been shown to activate brain regions that are involved in mood alterations and can induce antidepressant‐like behaviour in animals. The beneficial effects of TES in depression were further supported by its shared mechanisms with FDA‐approved antidepressant treatments, including its neuroprotective properties against apoptosis and inflammation, and its ability to enhance the neurotrophic expression. This article critically reviews the current findings on the neuroprotective effects of TES and provides evidence to support our hypothesis that TES possesses antidepressant effects.
KW - Antidepressant
KW - Depression
KW - Neuromodulation
KW - Neuroprotection
KW - TES
KW - Transcorneal electrical stimulation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85115888873&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/cells10092492
DO - 10.3390/cells10092492
M3 - Review article
C2 - 34572141
AN - SCOPUS:85115888873
SN - 2073-4409
VL - 10
JO - Cells
JF - Cells
IS - 9
M1 - 2492
ER -