Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor level is reduced in antidepressant-free patients with late-life depression.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study is to investigate serum BDNF levels in older depressed patients as compared to healthy elderly controls.


METHODS
Twenty-nine elderly subjects with major depression and 42 healthy older adults were enrolled to this study. All depressed patients were antidepressant-free for at least 1 month prior clinical and laboratorial assessments. Serum BDNF levels were determined by sandwich ELISA.


RESULTS
BDNF levels were lower in elderly depressed patients as compared to controls (P=0.034). Patients with late-onset depression had the lowest BDNF level (median 478.5, interquartile range 373.5-740.9 pg/l) when compared to early-onset depression (median 620.7, interquartile range 366.1-971.9 pg/l) and healthy controls (median 711.3, interquartile range 534.7-1181.0 pg/l) (P<0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Reduced serum BDNF level may be a state marker of late-life depression in non-medicated elderly patients. Our findings provide further evidences that reduced neurotrophic support may have an important role in the physiopathology of late-life depression.
Diniz
Breno Satler
BS
Laboratory of Neuroscience-LIM 27, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovidio Pires de Campos 785, São Paulo, Brazil. brenosatler@usp.br
Teixeira
Antonio Lucio
AL
Talib
Leda Leme
LL
Mendonça
Vanessa Amaral
VA
Gattaz
Wagner Farid
WF
Forlenza
Orestes Vicente
OV
D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001828:Body Image; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values
D015415:Biomarkers; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor