Reduced Cerebrospinal Fluid Levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Is Associated With Cognitive Impairment in Late-Life Major Depression

Objectives. Late-life depression (LLD) is associated with reduced neurotrophic support and abnormalities in neu-rodegenerative cascades. The aim of the present study is to determine the concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), amyloid-β 42, total Tau, and phosphorylated Tau in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with LLD and cognitive impairment compared to healthy older adults. Method. We included 25 antidepressant-free patients with LLD (10 with mild cognitive impairment [LLD + MCI] and 15 with no cognitive decline [LLD + NCD]) and 25 healthy older adults as a comparison group. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-21) and cognitive performance by a compre-hensive cognitive battery. Results. Patients with LLD + MCI showed significantly lower CSF BDNF levels compared to LLD + NCD and healthy controls (p = .003). There were no significant differences in Alzheimer’s disease–related CSF biomarkers betwee