title: Effects of escitalopram on serum BDNF levels in elderly patients with depression: a preliminary report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Increasing evidence in the literature suggests a link between the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) system and adult depression, supporting a role in the pathophysiology of the disease and response to therapy. Few studies have reported BDNF serum levels in elderly depressed subjects and their relationship with antidepressant therapy. The aim of the study was to evaluate BDNF serum levels in naive elderly depressed patients, before and after antidepressant treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled n = 5 elderly naive patients affected by depression, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV Text Revision criteria for major depressive episode. BDNF serum levels were evaluated through ELISA method. Cognitive functions were examined by Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and severity of depression was assessed by Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). BDNF levels were measured at baseline (T0) and after 2 months (T2) of escitalopram. Ten healthy elderly subjects were enrolled as a control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum BDNF levels in patients (T0) and controls were 11.5 ± 0.6 and 13.6 ± 3.4 ng/ml (m ± SD), respectively. At T2, the patients showed a significant improvement of depressive symptoms (p < 0.05), with a not significant increase of MMSE. The serum BDNF concentrations increased to 16.0 ± 2.7 ng/ml at T2 (p < 0.05), beyond the levels of BDNF in controls. The increase in BDNF levels was significantly related to the improvement in GDS scores of the patients (r = 0.9, p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum BDNF levels may be considered as a marker of response to antidepressant treatment for depression in the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, S. Andrea Hospital, Via di Grottarossa 1035, 00189, Rome, Italy, a_martocchia@virgilio.it.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martocchia
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Curto
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scaccianoce
authors.forename: Fabrizia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Comite
authors.forename: Dionysios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xenos
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nasca
authors.forename: Giulia Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Falaschi
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferracuti
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Girardi
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Falaschi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015283:Citalopram / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D015283:Citalopram; C579455:BDNF protein, human