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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Age Factors, Age of Onset, Aged, Biomarkers, Body Image, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Depressive Disorder, Major, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Reference Values.
user
Is serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor level reduced in antidepressant-free patients with late-life depression? Context: The aim of the present study is to investigate serum BDNF levels in older depressed patients as compared to healthy elderly controls. 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. 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).
assistant
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. Final Decision: yes