The Role of the NMDA Receptor in the Treatment of Psychiatric and Neurological Diseases

The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) is an ionotropic glutamate receptor widely expressed in the CNS and in peripheral tissues where it mediates crucial physiological functions and its dysregulation has been linked to a host of neurological and psychiatric disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, epilepsy, and chronic pain. This work highlights the therapeutic potential in targeting the NMDAR in these disease states by providing a holistic analysis of the existing literature focused on the molecular role of the receptor in applicable disease conditions. While several drugs targeting the NMDAR have been approved for clinical use, many more are in clinical and preclinical development. A significant part of this review assesses the chemical and pharmacological attributes of these molecules and provides a prognostic perspective for their use.