Insomnia is one of the major problems in the world, accounting for 10-15% of the general population and 30-60% of the elderly. Moreover, insomnia is generally associated with psychiatric illnesses such as depression, anorexia, etc. The most widely used substances in the treatment of insomnia are benzodiazepines or their analogs. However, these drugs have numerous side effects such as muscle weakness, recurrent insomnia, appetite disorders, impaired cognitive function, amnesic effects, and the development of drug tolerance and dependence. In an article published in the journal “Neuropharmacology”, scientists confirmed the possibility of a healthier sleep by activating adenosine A2A receptors in the brain.

The researchers identified the first positive allosteric regulator of A2A receptors, which, unlike classical receptor agonists, causes sleep without affecting cardiovascular function (blood pressure, heart rhythm). Their discovery stimulated the development of a new generation of sleeping pills.

The co-author of the article is an expert, medical chemist Dr. Tsuyoshi Saitoh said that this drug is still being tested on mice and there is a long way to go to study its effects on humans.