What is the science behind the Mood Assessment Taste Test (MATT)?

People with depression have a poorer sense of taste, which improves again as mood improves with treatment. This happens because the taste bud uses the same chemicals (serotonin and noradrenaline) involved in mood control in the brain.

Changes in ability to taste are seen within hours of taking a first antidepressant. The Mood Assessment Taste Test (MATT) is assessing whether that early change in taste sensitivity can help predict how effective antidepressant treatment will be for an individual patient over the course of 4-6 weeks.

For more of the science supporting the MATT trial

Depression: is it all in the mind? A talk by Professor David Nutt.

Professor David Nutt was guest speaker at our launch event in January 2019.

Professor Nutt talked about the science behind the diagnosis and management of depression. 

Professor Nutt holds the chair in Neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London and is director of the Department of Brain Sciences there. He specialises in research into drugs affecting the brain in conditions such as addiction, anxiety, depression and sleep.

Watch the talk by Professor David Nutt
Our possible solution: The Mood Assesment Taste Test (MATT)