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When ageing meets the blues: Are current antidepressants effective in depressed aged patients?

2015; Elsevier BV; Volume: 55; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.06.005

1873-7528

Daniela Felice, Olivia F. O’Leary, John F. Cryan, Timothy G. Dinan, Alain M. Gardier, Connie Sánchez, Denis J. David,

Stress Responses and Cortisol

"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.