Common constipation drug may help clear depression brain fog

An existing constipation drug may have an unexpected new use: helping clear the "brain fog" that often lingers after depression.

In a small clinical trial, people with a history of depression who took the medication prucalopride for about a week performed better on tests of memory, attention, and thinking speed than those who received a placebo.

The drug targets a serotonin receptor found in both the gut and the brain, and researchers saw no significant side effects. ...