For nearly a century, electroconvulsive therapy transformed lives without anyone fully understanding why. Now, researchers at Fujita Health University have traced the therapy's power to something remarkable: the ability to coax mature adult neurons backward in time, reactivating the genetic signatures of early development and suspending the brain in a state of heightened, youthful plasticity. The molecular key is a protein called Cyclin B, which unlocks a reprogramming cascade that may explain not only ECT's antidepressant effects, but also the fine line between healing and harm that all power
ECT Reprograms Adult Neurons to Youthful State via Cyclin B-Driven Nuclear Reprogramming
The research demonstrates ECT's effectiveness in treating major depression and schizophrenia, offering potential therapeutic benefits for patients with severe psychiatric disorders.