biostudies-literatureSmith GSNational Center for Advancing Translational SciencesNational Center for Research ResourcesNCATS NIH HHSNIA NIH HHSNIMH NIH HHSNational Institute of Mental HealthNational Institutes of HealthNational Institute on Aging108447https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8716112biostudies-literatureUnknown194Patients with late-life depression (LLD) have a more variable response to pharmacotherapy relative to patients with mid-life depression. Degeneration of the serotonergic system and lower occupancy of the initial target for antidepressant medications, the serotonin transporter (5-HTT), may contribute to variability in treatment response. The focus of this study was to test the hypotheses that lower cortical and limbic serotonin transporter (5-HTT) availability in LLD patients relative to controls and less 5-HTT occupancy by antidepressant medications would be associated with less improvement in mood and cognition with treatment in LLD patients. Twenty LLD patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for a current major depressive episode and 20 non-depressed controls underwent clinical and neuropsycholNeuropharmacologyMolecular imaging of the serotonin transporter availability and occupancy by antidepressant treatment in late-life depression.PMC8716112MH064823R01 AG059390UL1 TR003098R01 AG041633UL1 TR001079AG059390R01 MH064823AG038893AG041633MH086881R01 MH086881R01 AG038893Smith GSJoo JHMathews WBDannals RFNandi AHolt DPBigos KLKraut MKuwabara HWorkman CIHall AWBrasic JSavonenko AGould NFNassery NfalseMolecular imaging of the serotonin transporter availability and occupancy by antidepressant treatment in late-life depression.Patients with late-life depression (LLD) have a more variable response to pharmacotherapy relative to patients with mid-life depression. Degeneration of the serotonergic system and lower occupancy of the initial target for antidepressant medications, the serotonin transporter (5-HTT), may contribute to variability in treatment response. The focus of this study was to test the hypotheses that lower cortical and limbic serotonin transporter (5-HTT) availability in LLD patients relative to controls and less 5-HTT occupancy by antidepressant medications would be associated with less improvement in mood and cognition with treatment in LLD patients. Twenty LLD patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for a current major depressive episode and 20 non-depressed controls underwent clinical and neuropsychol2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Aug2025-04-04T19:40:32.776Z2025-04-04T19:40:32.776ZS-EPMC87161123345027610.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108447