title: Aspirin: a review of its neurobiological properties and therapeutic potential for mental illness.
abstract: There is compelling evidence to support an aetiological role for inflammation, oxidative and nitrosative stress (O&NS), and mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathophysiology of major neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and Alzheimer's disease (AD). These may represent new pathways for therapy. Aspirin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is an irreversible inhibitor of both cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2, It stimulates endogenous production of anti-inflammatory regulatory 'braking signals', including lipoxins, which dampen the inflammatory response and reduce levels of inflammatory biomarkers, including C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin (IL)--6, but not negative immunoregulatory cytokines, such as IL-4 and IL-10. Aspirin can reduce oxidative stress and protect against oxidative damage. Early evidence suggests there are beneficial effects of aspirin in preclinical and clinical studies in mood disorders and schizophrenia, and epidemiological data suggests that high-dose aspirin is associated with a reduced risk of AD. Aspirin, one of the oldest agents in medicine, is a potential new therapy for a range of neuropsychiatric disorders, and may provide proof-of-principle support for the role of inflammation and O&NS in the pathophysiology of this diverse group of disorders.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Deakin University, 75 Pigdon's Road, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, Victoria 3216, Australia. mikebe@barwonhealth.org.au
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berk
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.forename: Hemmo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Drexhage
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: McNeil
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moylan
authors.forename: Adrienne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: O'Neil
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Davey
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sanna
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D001241:Aspirin