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PubMed · 6317585

Depression in the elderly: a beta-adrenergic receptor dysfunction?

E A Burch·T J Goldschmidt
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Abstract

Depression is a significant problem in the elderly population and is often accompanied by cognitive changes and agitation. Hypothalamic-pituitary axis dysfunction may occur in some depressed elderly patients and represent a non-specific physiological hyperarousal state. Moreover, recent evidence confirms that antidepressants down-regulate beta-adrenergic receptors in the central nervous system. These findings provide the background for proposing that depression may result from an age-specific, stress-induced dysfunction of the beta-adrenergic receptor system in a subgroup of the geriatric population. A bio-psycho-social model for understanding and developing innovative treatment strategies for depression in the elderly is presented.

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Adaptation, PhysiologicalAdjustment DisordersAgedAgingArousalCentral Nervous SystemCerebral CortexDepressive DisorderHumansHypothalamo-Hypophyseal SystemIprindoleNorepinephrineReceptors, Adrenergic, betaStress, PhysiologicalJournal ArticleReview

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E A Burch, T J Goldschmidt. Depression in the elderly: a beta-adrenergic receptor dysfunction?. https://doi.org/10.2190/34lp-xtac-bjtt-qrgd

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