Beta-endorphin concentration in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of elderly depressed patients--effects of phosphatidylserine therapy.

beta-Endorphin (beta-EP) concentrations were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 10 elderly women with major depressive disorders, 10 age- and sex-matched healthy controls and 10 young healthy controls. beta-EP values were measured in resting condition and after stimulation with corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). In patients, beta-EP values were measured in drug-free condition and after 30 days of treatment with phosphatidylserine (BCPS), 200 mg/day, p.o. Basal and CRH-stimulated beta-EP concentrations were the same in patients and controls; in patients they did not change after BCPS, in spite of significant improvement of the depressive symptomatology.

T-lymphocyte proliferative response to mitogen stimulation in elderly depressed patients.

T-lymphocyte responses to phytohemoagglutinin (PHA) stimulation were examined in 10 elderly women with nonmelancholic Major Depressive Disorders (MDD), in 10 age- and sex-matched controls and in 10 young female controls, before and after in vivo stimulation with corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). The tests were repeated in MDD patients after 30 days of therapy with phosphatidylserine (BC-PS), 200 mg/day, p.o. T-lymphocyte responses to PHA stimulation did not differ in the three groups, and were not changed by CRH administration. BC-PS therapy, while significantly improving the depressive symptomatology, did not modify the T-lymphocyte response to PHA, either before or after CRH stimulation.

Cognitive decline in the elderly: a double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study on efficacy of phosphatidylserine administration.

This double-blind study assesses the therapeutic efficacy and the safety of oral treatment with phosphatidylserine (BC-PS) vs placebo (300 mg/day for 6 months) in a group of geriatric patients with cognitive impairment. A total of 494 elderly patients (age between 65 and 93 years), with moderate to severe cognitive decline, according to the Mini Mental State Examination and Global Deterioration Scale, were recruited in 23 Geriatric or General Medicine Units in Northeastern Italy. Sixty-nine patients dropped out within the 6-month trial period. Patients were examined just before starting therapy, and 3 and 6 months thereafter. The efficacy of treatment compared to placebo was measured on the basis of changes occurring in behavior and cognitive performance using the Plutchik Geriatric Rating Scale and the Buschke Selective Reminding Test. Statistically significant improvements in the phosphatidylserine-treated group compared to placebo were observed both in terms of behavioral and cognitive parameters. In addition, clinical evaluation and laboratory tests demonstrated that BC-PS was well tolerated. These results are clinically important since the patients were representative of the geriatric population commonly met in clinical practice.

Circadian secretion of melatonin and thyrotropin in hospitalized aged patients.

Alterations in periodical functions are known to occur in aging and may be regarded as markers of the aging process itself. Melatonin and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) circadian periodicities were studied in 22 aged subjects and in 13 adult controls. The study of rhythmicity was performed by the Cosinor analysis. Elderly subjects were hospitalized because of various concomitant diseases. Circadian periodicity of both hormones was disrupted in the aged group, and the deterioration of melatonin periodicity was significantly correlated with the decay in cognitive functions, quantified by the Mini Mental State evaluation. Diabetes was also found to affect, though not significantly, melatonin, but not TSH, periodicity. Melatonin and TSH nocturnal peaks were decreased in aged people. TSH oscillation amplitudes were inversely correlated with age. No correlation was found between melatonin and TSH secretory features both in adult and in aged subjects.

Effects of phosphatidylserine therapy in geriatric patients with depressive disorders.

The effects of phosphatidylserine (BC-PS) on cognitive, affective and behavioural symptoms were studied in a group of 10 elderly women with depressive disorders. Patients were treated with placebo for 15 days, followed by BC-PS (300 mg/day) for 30 days. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Gottfries-Bråne-Steen Rating Scale, Nurse's Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation and Buschke Selective Reminding Test were administered before and after placebo and after BC-PS therapy, to monitor changes in depression, memory and general behaviour. At the same time, basal plasma levels of noradrenaline, MHPG, DOPAC, HVA and 5-HIAA, and GH/beta-endorphin/beta-lipotropin responses to clonidine stimulation were measured. BC-PS induced consistent improvement of depressive symptoms, memory and behaviour. No changes in amine metabolite levels or in hormonal responses to alpha 2-adrenoceptor stimulation were observed.

Phosphatidylserine: quantitative EEG effects in healthy volunteers.

Eight healthy paid male volunteers (age: 21-28 years, mean: 24.5 +/- 1.7 years; weight 62-79 kg) were administered via intravenous infusion (3 min) acute 25-, 50-, and 75-mg doses of phosphatidylserine, or matching placebo in a latin-square design. Multichannel EEG recordings were performed in baseline conditions, during intravenous infusion, and 10, 30, 90, 180, and 360 min after drug/placebo administration. Blood pressure, heart rate, critical flicker-fusion frequency, and the subjects' performance at immediate and short-term retention tests were assessed after each electroencephalographic (EEG) recording. The EEG signal was quantified off-line by power spectral analysis, and bidimensional scalp maps were produced for each EEG variable. Descriptive statistical comparisons among subjects and between pre- and postdrug EEG recordings allowed the detection of systematic EEG changes (notably increment of the power on the 'alpha' frequency, which was restricted to the anterior electrode deviations at the 50-mg dose and the widespread to the whole scalp at the highest dose, and increase of the signal total power) in the absence of significant modifications of the subjects' neuropsychological status.