Elucidating the mechanism of action of benzodiazepine drugs: The role of hippocampal damage in the development of anterograde amnesia

Abstract

Benzodiazepines are often prescribed medications that are widely utilized for a variety of medical issues. The usage of benzodiazepines comes with a number of adverse effects, including anterograde amnesia, which can have a significant negative impact on a patients life. This paper analyzes current amnesia cases and the mechanism of benzodiazepine-induced anterograde amnesia in order to determine how benzodiazepines cause anterograde amnesia. This paper focuses on the mechanism by which benzodiazepines impede long-term potentiation (LTP) by reducing glutamate release and enhancing the inhibitory effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on n-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. The end outcome of this interference is antegrade amnesia. Additionally, this paper gives some suggestions on the use of benzodiazepines and the future research direction. It highlights the necessity of more study to comprehend the underlying mechanisms in greater detail and to develop alternate therapies that lessen the negative consequences on cognition.