Martocchia Antonio, Curto Martina, Scaccianoce Sergio, Comite Fabrizia, Xenos Dionysios, Nasca Carla, Falaschi Giulia Maria, Ferracuti Stefano, Girardi Paolo, Nicoletti Ferdinando, Falaschi Paolo
Geriatric Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, S. Andrea Hospital, Via di Grottarossa 1035, 00189, Rome, Italy,
Aging Clin Exp Res. 2014 Aug;26(4):461-4. doi: 10.1007/s40520-014-0194-2. Epub 2014 Jan 17.
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.
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.
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).
Serum BDNF levels may be considered as a marker of response to antidepressant treatment for depression in the elderly.
文献中越来越多的证据表明脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）系统与成人抑郁症之间存在联系，这支持了其在该疾病病理生理学及治疗反应中的作用。很少有研究报道老年抑郁症患者的BDNF血清水平及其与抗抑郁治疗的关系。本研究的目的是评估未经治疗的老年抑郁症患者在抗抑郁治疗前后的BDNF血清水平。
根据《精神疾病诊断与统计手册》第四版修订版中重度抑郁发作的标准，我们纳入了n = 5例未经治疗的老年抑郁症患者。通过酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）法评估BDNF血清水平。通过简易精神状态检查表（MMSE）检查认知功能，并通过老年抑郁量表（GDS）评估抑郁严重程度。在基线时（T0）以及艾司西酞普兰治疗2个月后（T2）测量BDNF水平。纳入10名健康老年受试者作为对照组。
患者组（T0）和对照组的血清BDNF水平分别为11.5±0.6和13.6±3.4 ng/ml（均值±标准差）。在T2时，患者的抑郁症状有显著改善（p < 0.05），MMSE有不显著的升高。血清BDNF浓度在T2时升至16.0±2.7 ng/ml（p < 0.05），超过了对照组的BDNF水平。BDNF水平的升高与患者GDS评分的改善显著相关（r = 0.9，p < 0.05）。
血清BDNF水平可被视为老年抑郁症患者抗抑郁治疗反应的一个标志物。
