An already registered antidepressant, duloxetine, may also have positive effects on memory and cognitive functions in the elderly. A new study shows that duloxetine, in addition to treating depression, also inhibits an enzyme involved in the regulation of the nervous system that affects memory and cognition. This could potentially prevent the development of dementia diseases, especially Alzheimer's disease. "Both depression and cognitive impairment often occur simultaneously in elderly individuals, particularly those in the early stages of a dementia disease," says Taher Darreh-Shori. "The discovery that duloxetine can have a dual effect is very promising." "This has been an unexpected discovery...