title: When ageing meets the blues: Are current antidepressants effective in depressed aged patients?
abstract: "I had to wait 110 years to become famous. I wanted to enjoy it as long as possible.", Jeanne Louise Calment (1875-1997). This review summarizes current knowledge of the effects of antidepressant drugs in elderly patients (double-blind placebo (n=27) or active comparator-controlled clinical trials (n=21) indexed in Pubmed in depressed patients aged ≥60) and in aged mice (≥9 months) and middle-aged rats (≥14 months) on depression-related symptoms and cognitive performances. Finally, other potential therapeutic targets for treating depression-related disorders in elderly patients are also addressed (neurogenesis, GABAB receptor, 5-HT4 receptor, mTOR signaling). Overall, the very few published preclinical studies (n=12 in total) in middle-aged and aged rodents seem to suggest that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be less effective than tricyclic antidepressant drugs (TCAs) in ameliorating depression-like behavior and cognitive functions. On the other hand, results from clinical trials suggest that there is not a marked difference in efficacy and safety profiles of current marketed classes of antidepressant drugs.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la recherche Médicale UMR-S 1178 Santé Mentale et Santé Publique, Université Paris-Sud, Fac Pharmacie, Université Paris Saclay, Châtenay-Malabry, France.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Felice
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Ireland; Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Olivia F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: O'Leary
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Ireland; Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cryan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University College Cork, Ireland; Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Timothy G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Dinan
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la recherche Médicale UMR-S 1178 Santé Mentale et Santé Publique, Université Paris-Sud, Fac Pharmacie, Université Paris Saclay, Châtenay-Malabry, France.
authors.forename: Alain M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gardier
authors.affiliation: Lundbeck Research USA, Inc., 215 College Road, Paramus, NJ 07652, United States.
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la recherche Médicale UMR-S 1178 Santé Mentale et Santé Publique, Université Paris-Sud, Fac Pharmacie, Université Paris Saclay, Châtenay-Malabry, France. Electronic address: denis.david@u-psud.fr.
authors.forename: Denis J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: David
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents
keywords: Aging; Cognition; Human; Major depressive disorders; Neurogenesis; Rodent