title: Depression in the elderly: a beta-adrenergic receptor dysfunction?
abstract: Depression is a significant problem in the elderly population and is often accompanied by cognitive changes and agitation. Hypothalamic-pituitary axis dysfunction may occur in some depressed elderly patients and represent a non-specific physiological hyperarousal state. Moreover, recent evidence confirms that antidepressants down-regulate beta-adrenergic receptors in the central nervous system. These findings provide the background for proposing that depression may result from an age-specific, stress-induced dysfunction of the beta-adrenergic receptor system in a subgroup of the geriatric population. A bio-psycho-social model for understanding and developing innovative treatment strategies for depression in the elderly is presented.
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000032:analysis; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D007488:Iprindole / Q000494:pharmacology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000502:physiology; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D007488:Iprindole; D009638:Norepinephrine