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Journal of Clinical and
Basic Psychosomatics Melatonin for dementia therapy
CaMKII, whose expression is regulated by melatonin, Funding
promotes pCaMKII signaling in the hippocampus, and
suppresses ox-CaMKII signaling, thereby preventing This work was supported in part by the Japan Agency for
neuronal cell death and improving cognitive function Medical Research and Development (23ym0126095h0002),
through neuroprotection in VaD rats . Research has the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, KAKENHI
[37]
shown that ERK is increased after melatonin treatment, and (22K06644), and Takeda Science Foundation to I.K.
melatonin may ameliorate cognitive impairment in adult Conflict of interest
[91]
gerbils with transient global cerebral ischemia . It has
also been demonstrated that melatonin may be beneficial The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
in bilateral typical carotid artery occlusion-induced VaD
rats through the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic Author contributions
factor (BDNF) , which is regulated by melatonin Conceptualization: Ichiro Kawahata, Sano Masahiro
[92]
receptors . These studies suggest that melatonin may act Writing – original draft: Sano Masahiro
[93]
through CaMKII, ERK, and BDNF in VaD treatment. Writing – review & editing: Kohji Fukunaga, Ichiro
Kawahata
3.4. Involvement of melatonin in the treatment of FTD
Few studies have reported the significant effects of Ethics approval and consent to participate
melatonin in FTD because sleep disorders related to FTD Not applicable.
exhibit different tendencies when compared to those
observed in AD. Furthermore, the melatonin receptor Consent for publication
agonist ramelteon also has no effect on the catatonoid Not applicable.
frontal signs in FTD .
[94]
In contrast, agomelatine, which is associated with Availability of data
melatonin receptors and 5-HT2C receptors, has been Not applicable.
reported to increase noradrenergic and dopaminergic
neural activity in the prefrontal cortex and antagonize References
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This review summarizes melatonin’s effects on the core https://doi.org/10.2174/1567205016666190321163438
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Acknowledgments 226: 67–70.
We are grateful to Dr. Atsuhiko Chiba at Sophia University https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2004.09.014
for providing valuable insights into the physiological 6. Taylor JP, McKeith IG, Burn DJ, et al., 2020, New evidence
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Volume 1 Issue 2 (2023) 8 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcbp.1174

