Karolinska Institutet study finds SSRIs affect developing nerve cell metabolism differently

Summary

A new study from Karolinska Institutet reveals that different SSRI medications affect metabolic processes in developing nerve cells in distinct ways, including alterations in energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and lipid profiles. The research, led by postdoctoral researcher Abishek Arora, used cell-based experiments to study effects on human nerve cells during early brain development without the confounding influence of maternal depression. The findings suggest SSRIs are not biologically equivalent, but the researchers caution against interpreting the results as evidence that SSRIs during pregnancy cause autism, ADHD, or other neurodevelopmental disorders.