Neurotrophic effects refer to intra cellular mechanisms associated with proliferation, differentiation, growth and regeneration of neurons, whereas neuroprotective effects refer to mecha nisms that slow or halt the progression of neuronal atrophy or cell death
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These intracellular mechanisms include (but are not limited to) the mitogen activated protein kinase/ extracellular signal-related kinase (MAPK/ERK) pathway, the phospa tidylinosi tol 3 kinase (PI3K) path way; the winglesslglycogen synthase kinase 3 (Wnt/GSK3) pathway; brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF); nerve growth factor (NGF); B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl 2); serine threonine kinase; and Bcl 2 associ ated athanogene 1. arious antide pressant drugs, SGA drugs, lithium, valproate, carbamazepine, lamotrig electroconvulsive therapy, and exercise have been found to activate or regulate these mechanisms . Based on these mechanisms, various psychotropic drugs promote neurogenesis protective in models of neurodegen- erative diseases (including dementia)