Potential depression therapy revealed through the eye

Researchers have discovered opportunities for treating depression and Alzheimer's disease through non-invasive stimulation of the corneal surface in the eye.

A joint study, led by researchers from The University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) and City University of Hong Kong (CityU), found that transcorneal electrical stimulation was a safer alternative to deep brain stimulation for activating brain pathways, which created antidepressant-like effects and reduced stress hormones in an animal model of depression.

According to the study, this also induced the expression of genes involved in the development and growth of brain cells in the hippocampus, which could improve memory function. A non-invasive stimulation experiment in mice revealed that this drastically improved memory performance and reduced beta-amyloid deposits in the hippocampus - a sign of Alzheimer's disease.