Abstract
As late-life depression is associated with a high degree of treatment resistance, understanding predictors of outcome may inform management. In this review, we examine a spectrum of factors that may moderate treatment response. These include clinical moderators related to depression presentation and history, social moderators, psychosocial stressors, personality, and cognitive factors. As there has been substantial research on biological predictors of response, we also include a review of neuroimaging moderators, including markers of accelerated brain aging, as well as other peripheral or central biomarkers of response.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 13 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $19.92 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to the full article PDF.
USD 39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others
References
Subramanian S, Oughli HA, Gebara MA, Palanca BJA, Lenze EJ. Treatment-resistant late-life depression: a review of clinical features, neuropsychology, neurobiology, and treatment. Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2023;46:371–89.
Steffens DC. Depression and dementia risk: research findings that are shovel-ready for clinicians. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2021;29:927–9.
Diniz BS, Butters MA, Albert SM, Dew MA, Reynolds CF. Late-life depression and risk of vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease: systematic review and meta-analysis of community-based cohort studies. Br J Psychiatry. 2013;202:329–35.
Culang ME, Sneed JR, Keilp JG, Rutherford BR, Pelton GH, Devanand DP, et al. Change in cognitive functioning following acute antidepressant treatment in late-life depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2009;17:881–8.
Schatzberg A, Roose S. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of venlafaxine and fluoxetine in geriatric outpatients with major depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2006;14:361–70.
Newhouse PA, Krishnan KR, Doraiswamy PM, Richter EM, Batzar ED, Clary CM. A double-blind comparison of sertraline and fluoxetine in depressed elderly outpatients. J Clin Psychiatry. 2000;61:559–68.
Ji M, Sun Y, Zhou J, Li X, Wei H, Wang Z. Comparative effectiveness and acceptability of psychotherapies for late-life depression: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. J Affect Disord. 2023;323:409–16.
Buchalter ELF, Oughli HA, Lenze EJ, Dixon D, Miller JP, Blumberger DM, et al. Predicting remission in late-life major depression: a clinical algorithm based upon past treatment history. J Clin Psychiatry. 2019;80:18m12483
Nomikos GG, Tomori D, Zhong W, Affinito J, Palo W. Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of vortioxetine for the treatment of major depressive disorder in patients aged 55 years or older. CNS Spectr. 2017;22:348–62.
Lenze EJ, Mulsant BH, Blumberger DM, Karp JF, Newcomer JW, Anderson SJ, et al. Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of augmentation pharmacotherapy with aripiprazole for treatment-resistant depression in late life: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2015;386:2404–12.
Berlim MT, Turecki G. What is the meaning of treatment resistant/refractory major depression (TRD)? A systematic review of current randomized trials. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2007;17:696–707.
Gaynes BN, Lux L, Gartlehner G, Asher G, Forman-Hoffman V, Green J, et al. Defining treatment-resistant depression. Depress Anxiety. 2020;37:134–45.
Lenze EJ, Mulsant BH, Roose SP, Lavretsky H, Reynolds CF 3rd, Blumberger DM, et al. Antidepressant augmentation versus switch in treatment-resistant geriatric depression. N Engl J Med. 2023;388:1067–79.
Sackeim HA, Roose SP, Burt T. Optimal length of antidepressant trials in late-life depression. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2005;25:S34–537.
Rush AJ, Kraemer HC, Sackeim HA, Fava M, Trivedi MH, Frank E, et al. Report by the ACNP Task Force on response and remission in major depressive disorder. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2006;31:1841–53.
Hamilton M. A rating scale for depression. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1960;23:55–61.
Montgomery SA, Asberg M. A new depression scale designed to be sensitive to change. Br J Psychiatry. 1979;134:382–9.
Hawley CJ, Gale TM, Sivakumaran T. Defining remission by cut off score on the MADRS: selecting the optimal value. J Affect Disord. 2002;72:177–84.
Taylor WD, McQuoid DR, Steffens DC, Krishnan KR. Is there a definition of remission in late-life depression that predicts later relapse? Neuropsychopharmacology. 2004;29:2272–7.
Greenland S, Rothman KJ. Concepts of interaction. In: Rothman KJ, Greenland S, editors. Modern epidemiology. New York: Lippincott-Raven; 1998. p. 329–42.
Dunlop BW, Kelley ME, Aponte-Rivera V, Mletzko-Crowe T, Kinkead B, Ritchie JC, et al. Effects of patient preferences on outcomes in the Predictors of Remission in Depression to Individual and Combined Treatments (PReDICT) Study. Am J Psychiatry. 2017;174:546–56.
Tunvirachaisakul C, Gould RL, Coulson MC, Ward EV, Reynolds G, Gathercole RL, et al. Predictors of treatment outcome in depression in later life: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord. 2018;227:164–82.
Bosworth HB, McQuoid DR, George LK, Steffens DC. Time-to-remission from geriatric depression: psychosocial and clinical factors. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2002;10:551–9.
Deng Y, McQuoid DR, Potter GG, Steffens DC, Albert K, Riddle M, et al. Predictors of recurrence in remitted late-life depression. Depress Anxiety. 2018;35:658–67.
Steffens DC, Fahed M, Manning KJ, Wang L. The neurobiology of apathy in depression and neurocognitive impairment in older adults: a review of epidemiological, clinical, neuropsychological and biological research. Transl Psychiatry. 2022;12:525.
Nelson JC, Delucchi KL, Schneider LS. Moderators of outcome in late-life depression: a patient-level meta-analysis. Am J Psychiatry. 2013;170:651–9.
Nelson JC, Delucchi K, Schneider LS. Anxiety does not predict response to antidepressant treatment in late life depression: results of a meta-analysis. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2009;24:539–44.
Saade YM, Nicol G, Lenze EJ, Miller JP, Yingling M, Wetherell JL, et al. Comorbid anxiety in late-life depression: Relationship with remission and suicidal ideation on venlafaxine treatment. Depress Anxiety. 2019;36:1125–34.
Yuen GS, Gunning FM, Woods E, Klimstra SA, Hoptman MJ, Alexopoulos GS. Neuroanatomical correlates of apathy in late-life depression and antidepressant treatment response. J Affect Disord. 2014;166:179–86.
Yuen GS, Bhutani S, Lucas BJ, Gunning FM, AbdelMalak B, Seirup JK, et al. Apathy in late-life depression: common, persistent, and disabling. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2015;23:488–94.
Lampe IK, Heeren TJ. Is apathy in late-life depressive illness related to age-at-onset, cognitive function or vascular risk? Int Psychogeriatr. 2004;16:481–6.
Groeneweg-Koolhoven I, Ploeg M, Comijs HC, Wjh Penninx B, van der Mast RC, Schoevers RA, et al. Apathy in early and late-life depression. J Affect Disord. 2017;223:76–81.
Sudol K, Conway C, Szymkowicz SM, Elson D, Kang H, Taylor WD. Cognitive, disability, and treatment outcome implications of symptom-based phenotyping in late-life depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2023;31:919–31.
Oslin DW, Datto CJ, Kallan MJ, Katz IR, Edell WS, TenHave T. Association between medical comorbidity and treatment outcomes in late-life depression. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2002;50:823–8.
Borza T, Engedal K, Bergh S, Benth JS. Selbaek G. The course of depression in late life as measured by the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale in an observational study of hospitalized patients. BMC Psychiatry. 2015;15:191.
Karp JF, Scott J, Houck P, Reynolds CF 3rd, Kupfer DJ, Frank E. Pain predicts longer time to remission during treatment of recurrent depression. J Clin Psychiatry. 2005;66:591–7.
Brown PJ, Roose SP, O’Boyle KR, Ciarleglio A, Maas B, Igwe KC, et al. Frailty and its correlates in adults with late life depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2020;28:145–54.
Vaughan L, Corbin AL, Goveas JS. Depression and frailty in later life: a systematic review. Clin Interv Aging. 2015;10:1947–58.
Collard RM, Comijs HC, Naarding P, Penninx BW, Milaneschi Y, Ferrucci L, et al. Frailty as a predictor of the incidence and course of depressed mood. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2015;16:509–14.
Oude Voshaar RC, Dimitriadis M, vandenBrink RHS, Aprahamian I, Borges MK, Marijnissen RM, et al. A 6-year prospective clinical cohort study on the bidirectional association between frailty and depressive disorder. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2021;36:1699–707.
Alexopoulos GS. Mechanisms and treatment of late-life depression. Transl Psychiatry. 2019;9:188.
Blazer DG. Depression and social support in late life: a clear but not obvious relationship. Aging Ment Health. 2005;9:497–9.
Ghesquiere AR, Park M, Bogner HR, Greenberg RL, Bruce ML. The effect of recent bereavement on outcomes in a primary care depression intervention study. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2014;22:1555–64.
Oxman TE, Hull JG. Social support and treatment response in older depressed primary care patients. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2001;56:35–45.
Manning KJ, Chan G, Steffens DC, Pierce CW, Potter GG. The interaction of personality and social support on prospective suicidal ideation in men and women with late-life depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2021;29:66–77.
Davies M, Adshead F. Closing the gap in a generation: health equity through action on the social determinants of health. An international conference based on the work of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health, 6-7 November 2008, London. Glob Health Promot. 2009;95–6:108–9. 7–8.
AreĂ¡n P, Miranda J. The treatment of depression in elderly primary care patients: a naturalistic study. J Clin Geropsychol. 1996;2:153–60.
Arean PA, Gum A, McCulloch CE, Bostrom A, Gallagher-Thompson D, Thompson L. Treatment of depression in low-income older adults. Psychol Aging. 2005;20:601–9.
Ishtiak-Ahmed K, Rohde C, Kohler-Forsberg O, Christensen KS, Gasse C. Depression treatment trajectories and associated social determinants: a three-year follow-Up dtudy in 66,540 older adults undergoing first-time depression treatment in Denmark. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2024;39:e70006.
Gerlach LB, Kavanagh J, Watkins D, Chiang C, Kim HM, Kales HC. With a little help from my friends?: racial and gender differences in the role of social support in later-life depression medication adherence. Int Psychogeriatr. 2017;29:1485–93.
Patrick RE, Dickinson RA, Gentry MT, Kim JU, Oberlin LE, Park S, et al. Treatment resistant late-life depression: A narrative review of psychosocial risk factors, non-pharmacological interventions, and the role of clinical phenotyping. J Affect Disord. 2024;356:145–54.
Comijs HC, van Exel E, van der Mast RC, Paauw A, Oude Voshaar R, Stek ML. Childhood abuse in late-life depression. J Affect Disord. 2013;147:241–6.
Naismith SL, Norrie LM, Mowszowski L, Hickie IB. The neurobiology of depression in later-life: clinical, neuropsychological, neuroimaging and pathophysiological features. Prog Neurobiol. 2012;98:99–143.
Steffens DC, Manning KJ, Wu R, Grady JJ, Fortinsky RH, Tennen HA. Methodology and preliminary results from the neurobiology of late-life depression study. Int Psychogeriatr. 2015;27:1987–97.
Karp JF, Frank E, Anderson B, George CJ, Reynolds CF, Mazumdar S. Time to remission in late-life depression: analysis of effects of demographic, treatment, and life-events measures. Depression. 1993;1:250–6.
Dimitriadis M, van den Brink RHS, Comijs HC, Oude Voshaar RC. Prognostic effect of serum BDNF levels in late-life depression: moderated by childhood trauma and SSRI usage? Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2019;103:276–83.
Marquett RM, Thompson LW, Reiser RP, Holland JM, O’Hara RM, Kesler SR, et al. Psychosocial predictors of treatment response to cognitive-behavior therapy for late-life depression: an exploratory study. Aging Ment Health. 2013;17:830–8.
Muller J, Elsaesser M, Muller W, Hellmich M, Hammen M, Zehender N, et al. Differential psychological treatment effects in patients with late-life depression and a history of childhood maltreatment. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2024;32:1325–36.
Zannas AS, McQuoid DR, Steffens DC, Chrousos GP, Taylor WD. Stressful life events, perceived stress, and 12-month course of geriatric depression: direct effects and moderation by the 5-HTTLPR and COMT Val158Met polymorphisms. Stress. 2012;15:425–34.
Steffens DC, Wu R, Grady JJ, Manning KJ. Presence of neuroticism and antidepressant remission rates in late-life depression: results from the Neurobiology of Late-Life Depression (NBOLD) study. Int Psychogeriatr. 2018;30:1069–74.
Costa PT, McCrae RR. Revised NEO personality inventory (NEO-PI-R) and NEO five-factor inventory (NEO-FFI) professional manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources; 1992.
Steffens DC, McQuoid DR, Smoski MJ, Potter GG. Clinical outcomes of older depressed patients with and without comorbid neuroticism. Int Psychogeriatr. 2013;25:1985–90.
Jeuring HW, Stek ML, Huisman M, Oude Voshaar RC, Naarding P, Collard RM, et al. A six-year prospective study of the prognosis and predictors in patients With late-life depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2018;26:985–97.
Manning KJ, Chan G, Steffens DC. Neuroticism traits selectively impact long term illness course and cognitive decline in late-life depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2017;25:220–9.
Jang Y, Clay OJ, Roth DL, Haley WE, Mittelman MS. Neuroticism and longitudinal change in caregiver depression: impact of a spouse-caregiver intervention program. Gerontologist. 2004;44:311–7.
Naito M, Kato M, Koshikawa Y, Bandou H, Sakai S, Takekita Y, et al. Personality as a basis for antidepressant selection for patients with depression: a two-point outcome study at 4 and 8 weeks. J Affect Disord. 2022;314:27–33.
Bock C, Bukh JD, Vinberg M, Gether U, Kessing LV. The influence of comorbid personality disorder and neuroticism on treatment outcome in first episode depression. Psychopathology. 2010;43:197–204.
Kim SY, Stewart R, Bae KY, Kim SW, Shin IS, Hong YJ, et al. Influences of the Big Five personality traits on the treatment response and longitudinal course of depression in patients with acute coronary syndrome: a randomised controlled trial. J Affect Disord. 2016;203:38–45.
Zuidersma M, de Vries YA, Bogers ICHM, Rhebergen D, Oude Voshaar RC. Six-year course over time and predictors of suicidal ideation in depressed older patients. J Affect Disord. 2025;370:90–9.
Bhalla RK, Butters MA, Becker JT, Houck PR, Snitz BE, Lopez OL, et al. Patterns of mild cognitive impairment after treatment of depression in the elderly. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2009;17:308–16.
Pimontel MA, Rindskopf D, Rutherford BR, Brown PJ, Roose SP, Sneed J. A meta-analysis of executive dysfunction and antidepressant treatment response in late-life depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2016;24:31–41.
Kalayam B, Alexopoulos GS. Prefrontal dysfunction and treatment response in geriatric depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1999;56:713–8.
Alexopoulos GS, Kiosses DN, Heo M, Murphy CF, Shanmugham B, Gunning-Dixon F. Executive dysfunction and the course of geriatric depression. Biol Psychiatry. 2005;58:204–10.
Alexopoulos GS, Kiosses DN, Murphy C, Heo M. Executive dysfunction, heart disease burden, and remission of geriatric depression. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2004;29:2278–84.
Potter GG, Kittinger JD, Wagner HR, Steffens DC, Krishnan KR. Prefrontal neuropsychological predictors of treatment remission in late-life depression. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2004;29:2266–71.
Beaudreau SA, Rideaux T, O’Hara R, Arean P. Does cognition predict treatment response and remission in psychotherapy for late-life depression? Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2015;23:215–9.
Ainsworth NJ, Oughli H, Lavretsky H, Blumberger DM, Brown PJ, Butters MA, et al. The cognitive profile of older adults with treatment-resistant depression: an analysis of the OPTIMUM randomized controlled trial. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2025;33:361–71.
Morimoto SS, Gunning FM, Kanellopoulos D, Murphy CF, Klimstra SA, Kelly RE Jr., et al. Semantic organizational strategy predicts verbal memory and remission rate of geriatric depression. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2012;27:506–12.
Morimoto SS, Gunning FM, Murphy CF, Kanellopoulos D, Kelly RE, Alexopoulos GS. Executive function and short-term remission of geriatric depression: the role of semantic strategy. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2011;19:115–22.
Sneed JR, Roose SP, Keilp JG, Krishnan KR, Alexopoulos GS, Sackeim HA. Response inhibition predicts poor antidepressant treatment response in very old depressed patients. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2007;15:553–63.
Alexopoulos GS, Manning K, Kanellopoulos D, McGovern A, Seirup JK, Banerjee S, et al. Cognitive control, reward-related decision making and outcomes of late-life depression treated with an antidepressant. Psychol Med. 2015;45:3111–20.
Manning KJ, Alexopoulos GS, Banerjee S, Morimoto SS, Seirup JK, Klimstra SA, et al. Executive functioning complaints and escitalopram treatment response in late-life depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2015;23:440–5.
Taylor WD, Ajilore O, Karim HT, Butters MA, Krafty R, Boyd BD, et al. Assessing depression recurrence, cognitive burden, and neurobiological homeostasis in late life: Design and rationale of the REMBRANDT Study. J Mood Anxiety Disord. 2024;55:100038.
Story TJ, Potter GG, Attix DK, Welsh-Bohmer KA, Steffens DC. Neurocognitive correlates of response to treatment in late-life depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2008;16:752–9. PMC2722450.
Aizenstein HJ, Khalaf A, Walker SE, Andreescu C. Magnetic resonance imaging predictors of treatment response in late-life depression. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2014;27:24–32.
Alexopoulos GS, Meyers BS, Young RC, Campbell S, Silbersweig D, Charlson M. Vascular depression’ hypothesis. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1997;54:915–22.
Gerlach AR, Karim HT, Pecina M, Ajilore O, Taylor WD, Butters MA, et al. MRI predictors of pharmacotherapy response in major depressive disorder. NeuroImage Clin. 2022;36:103157.
Hsieh MH, McQuoid DR, Levy RM, Payne ME, MacFall JR, Steffens DC. Hippocampal volume and antidepressant response in geriatric depression. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2002;17:519–25.
Sheline YI, Disabato BM, Hranilovich J, Morris C, D’Angelo G, Pieper C, et al. Treatment course with antidepressant therapy in late-life depression. Am J Psychiatry. 2012;169:1185–93.
Taylor WD, McQuoid DR, Payne ME, Zannas AS, MacFall JR, Steffens DC. Hippocampus atrophy and the longitudinal course of late-life depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2014;22:1504–12.
Ahmed R, Ryan C, Christman S, Elson D, Bermudez C, Landman BA, et al. Structural MRI-based measures of accelerated brain aging do not moderate the acute antidepressant response in late-life depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2022;30:1015–25.
Khalaf A, Edelman K, Tudorascu D, Andreescu C, Reynolds CF, Aizenstein H. White matter hyperintensity accumulation during treatment of late-life depression. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2015;40:3027–35.
MacQueen GM, Yucel K, Taylor VH, Macdonald K, Joffe R. Posterior hippocampal volumes are associated with remission rates in patients with major depressive disorder. Biol Psychiatry. 2008;64:880–3.
Gunning FM, Cheng J, Murphy CF, Kanellopoulos D, Acuna J, Hoptman MJ, et al. Anterior cingulate cortical volumes and treatment remission of geriatric depression. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2009;24:829–36.
Motter JN, Lee S, Sneed JR, Doraiswamy PM, Pelton GH, Petrella JR, et al. Cortical thickness predicts remission of depression with antidepressants in patients with late-life depression and cognitive impairment. J Affect Disord. 2021;295:438–45.
Voineskos A, Zhukovsky P, Butters M, Lavretsky H, Brown P, Shimony J, et al. Brain-cognition relationships and treatment outcome in treatment-resistant late-life depression. Res Sq. 2025 3:rs.3.rs-6340032.
Hickie I, Scott E, Mitchell P, Wilhelm K, Austin MP, Bennett B. Subcortical hyperintensities on magnetic resonance imaging: clinical correlates and prognostic significance in patients with severe depression. Biol Psychiatry. 1995;37:151–60.
Janssen J, Hulshoff Pol HE, Schnack HG, Kok RM, Lampe IK, de Leeuw FE, et al. Cerebral volume measurements and subcortical white matter lesions and short-term treatment response in late life depression. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2007;22:468–74.
Bella R, Pennisi G, Cantone M, Palermo F, Pennisi M, Lanza G, et al. Clinical presentation and outcome of geriatric depression in subcortical ischemic vascular disease. Gerontology. 2010;56:298–302.
Gunning-Dixon FM, Walton M, Cheng J, Acuna J, Klimstra S, Zimmerman ME, et al. MRI signal hyperintensities and treatment remission of geriatric depression. J Affect Disord. 2010;126:395–401.
Sneed JR, Culang-Reinlieb ME, Brickman AM, Gunning-Dixon FM, Johnert L, Garcon E, et al. MRI signal hyperintensities and failure to remit following antidepressant treatment. J Affect Disord. 2011;135:315–20.
Salloway S, Correia S, Boyle P, Malloy P, Schneider L, Lavretsky H, et al. MRI subcortical hyperintensities in old and very old depressed outpatients: the important role of age in late-life depression. J Neurol Sci. 2002;203-204:227–33.
Alexopoulos GS, Kiosses DN, Choi SJ, Murphy CF, Lim KO. Frontal white matter microstructure and treatment response of late-life depression: a preliminary study. Am J Psychiatry. 2002;159:1929–32.
Alexopoulos GS, Murphy CF, Gunning-Dixon FM, Latoussakis V, Kanellopoulos D, Klimstra S, et al. Microstructural white matter abnormalities and remission of geriatric depression. Am J Psychiatry. 2008;165:238–44.
Taylor WD, Kuchibhatla M, Payne ME, Macfall JR, Sheline YI, Krishnan KR, et al. Frontal white matter anisotropy and antidepressant remission in late-life depression. PLoS ONE. 2008;3. e3267.
Taylor WD, Macfall JR, Boyd B, Payne ME, Sheline YI, Krishnan RR, et al. One-year change in anterior cingulate cortex white matter microstructure: relationship with late-life depression outcomes. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2011;19:43–52.
Allman JM, Hakeem A, Erwin JM, Nimchinsky E, Hof P. The anterior cingulate cortex. The evolution of an interface between emotion and cognition. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2001;935:107–17.
Pizzagalli DA. Frontocingulate dysfunction in depression: toward biomarkers of treatment response. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2011;36:183–206.
Emam H, Steffens DC, Pearlson GD, Wang L. Increased ventromedial prefrontal cortex activity and connectivity predict poor sertraline treatment outcome in late-life depression. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2019;34:730–7.
Andreescu C, Tudorascu DL, Butters MA, Tamburo E, Patel M, Price J, et al. Resting state functional connectivity and treatment response in late-life depression. Psychiatry Res. 2013;214:313–21.
Wu M, Andreescu C, Butters MA, Tamburo R, Reynolds CF 3rd, Aizenstein H. Default-mode network connectivity and white matter burden in late-life depression. Psychiatry Res. 2011;194:39–46.
Karim HT, Andreescu C, Tudorascu D, Smagula SF, Butters MA, Karp JF, et al. Intrinsic functional connectivity in late-life depression: trajectories over the course of pharmacotherapy in remitters and non-remitters. Mol Psychiatry. 2017;22:450–7.
Thompson DG, Kesler SR, Sudheimer K, Mehta KM, Thompson LW, Marquett RM, et al. FMRI activation during executive function predicts response to cognitive behavioral therapy in older, depressed adults. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2015;23:13–22.
Solomonov N, Victoria LW, Mir Z, Phan D, Hoptman MJ, Arean P, et al. Brain activation associated with response to psychotherapies for late-life depression: a task-based fMRI study. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2025;33:611–23.
Aizenstein HJ, Butters MA, Wu M, Mazurkewicz LM, Stenger VA, Gianaros PJ, et al. Altered functioning of the executive control circuit in late-life depression: episodic and persistent phenomena. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2009;17:30–42.
Khalaf A, Karim H, Berkout OV, Andreescu C, Tudorascu D, Reynolds CF, et al. Altered functional magnetic resonance imaging markers of affective processing during treatment of late-life depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2016;24:791–801.
Laifenfeld D, Albeldas C, Solal TC, McIntyre RS, Stahl S. Toward precision psychiatry: innovations and prospects in treating depression. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2025;27:25nr03970.
McGrath CL, Kelley ME, Holtzheimer PE, Dunlop BW, Craighead WE, Franco AR, et al. Toward a neuroimaging treatment selection biomarker for major depressive disorder. JAMA Psychiatry. 2013;70:821–9.
Dunlop BW, Rajendra JK, Craighead WE, Kelley ME, McGrath CL, Choi KS, et al. Functional connectivity of the subcallosal cingulate cortex and differential outcomes to treatment with cognitive-behavioral therapy or antidepressant medication for major depressive disorder. Am J Psychiatry. 2017;174:533–45.
Goldapple K, Segal Z, Garson C, Lau M, Bieling P, Kennedy S, et al. Modulation of cortical-limbic pathways in major depression: treatment-specific effects of cognitive behavior therapy. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2004;61:34–41.
Solomonov N, Victoria LW, Dunlop K, Respino M, Hoptman MJ, Zilcha-Mano S, et al. Resting state functional connectivity and outcomes of psychotherapies for late-life depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2020;28:859–68.
Zhang M, Mo J, Zhang H, Tang Y, Guo K, OuYang X, et al. Efficacy and tolerability of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for late-life depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord. 2023;323:219–31.
Jorge RE, Moser DJ, Acion L, Robinson RG. Treatment of vascular depression using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2008;65:268–76.
Karim HT, Gerlach A, Butters MA, Krafty R, Boyd BD, Banihashemi L, et al. Brain age Is not a significant predictor of relapse risk in late-life depression. Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging. 2025;10:103–10.
Taylor WD, Boyd BD, Elson D, Andrews P, Albert K, Vega J, et al. Preliminary evidence that cortical amyloid burden predicts poor response to antidepressant medication treatment in cognitively intact individuals with late-life depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2021;29:448–57.
Cohen SE, Zantvoord JB, Wezenberg BN, Bockting CLH, van Wingen GA. Magnetic resonance imaging for individual prediction of treatment response in major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Transl Psychiatry. 2021;11:168.
Patel MJ, Andreescu C, Price JC, Edelman KL, Reynolds CF, Aizenstein HJ. Machine learning approaches for integrating clinical and imaging features in late-life depression classification and response prediction. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2015;30:1056–67.
Poirot MG, Ruhe HG, Mutsaerts HMM, Maximov I, Groote IR, Bjornerud A, et al. Treatment response prediction in major depressive disorder using multimodal MRI and clinical data: Secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial. Am J Psychiatry. 2024;181:223–33.
Sajjadian M, Uher R, Ho K, Hassel S, Milev R, Frey BN, et al. Prediction of depression treatment outcome from multimodal data: a CAN-BIND-1 report. Psychol Med. 2023;53:5374–84.
Marshe VS, Maciukiewicz M, Rej S, Tiwari AK, Sibille E, Blumberger DM, et al. Norepinephrine transporter gene variants and remission from depression with venlafaxine treatment in older adults. Am J Psychiatry. 2017;174:468–75.
Pollock BG, Ferrell RE, Mulsant BH, Mazumdar S, Miller M, Sweet RA, et al. Allelic variation in the serotonin transporter promoter affects onset of paroxetine treatment response in late-life depression. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2000;23:587–90.
Taylor WD, McQuoid DR, Ashley-Koch A, Macfall JR, Bridgers J, Krishnan RR, et al. BDNF Val66Met genotype and 6-month remission rates in late-life depression. Pharmacogenom J. 2011;11:146–54.
Alexopoulos GS, Glatt CE, Hoptman MJ, Kanellopoulos D, Murphy CF, Kelly RE, et al. BDNF val66met polymorphism, white matter abnormalities and remission of geriatric depression. J Affect Disord. 2010;125:262–8.
Marshe VS, Islam F, Maciukiewicz M, Bousman C, Eyre HA, Lavretsky H, et al. Pharmacogenetic implications for antidepressant pPharmacotherapy in late-life depression: a systematic review of the literature for response, pharmacokinetics and adverse drug reactions. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2020;28:609–29.
Marshe VS, Maciukiewicz M, Hauschild AC, Islam F, Qin L, Tiwari AK, et al. Genome-wide analysis suggests the importance of vascular processes and neuroinflammation in late-life antidepressant response. Transl Psychiatry. 2021;11:127.
Forester BP, Parikh SV, Weisenbach S, Ajilore O, Vahia I, Rothschild AJ, et al. Combinatorial pharmacogenomic testing improves outcomes for older adults with depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2020;28:933–45.
van der Schans J, Hak E, Postma M, Breuning L, Brouwers J, Ditters K, et al. Effects of pharmacogenetic screening for CYP2D6 among elderly starting therapy with nortriptyline or venlafaxine: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial (CYSCE Trial). J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2019;39:583–90.
Marshe VS, Islam F, Maciukiewicz M, Fiori LM, Yerko V, Yang J, et al. Validation study of microRNAs previously associated with antidepressant response in older adults treated for late-life depression with venlafaxine. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2020;100:109867.
Zheng K, Hu F, Zhou Y, Zhang J, Zheng J, Lai C, et al. miR-135a-5p mediates memory and synaptic impairments via the Rock2/Adducin1 signaling pathway in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Nat Commun. 2021;12:1903.
Grzenda A, Siddarth P, Laird KT, Yeargin J, Lavretsky H. Transcriptomic signatures of treatment response to the combination of escitalopram and memantine or placebo in late-life depression. Mol Psychiatry. 2021;26:5171–9.
Martocchia A, Curto M, Scaccianoce S, Comite F, Xenos D, Nasca C, et al. Effects of escitalopram on serum BDNF levels in elderly patients with depression: a preliminary report. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2014;26:461–4.
Kruse JL, Congdon E, Olmstead R, Njau S, Breen EC, Narr KL, et al. Inflammation and improvement of depression following electroconvulsive therapy in treatment-resistant depression. J Clin Psychiatry. 2018;79:17m11597.
Ryan KM, McLoughlin DM. Peripheral blood inflammatory markers in depression: Response to electroconvulsive therapy and relationship with cognitive performance. Psychiatry Res. 2022;315:114725.
Carlier A, Berkhof JG, Rozing M, Bouckaert F, Sienaert P, Eikelenboom P, et al. Inflammation and remission in older patients with depression treated with electroconvulsive therapy; findings from the MODECT study (☆). J Affect Disord. 2019;256:509–16.
Kosanovic Rajacic B, Sagud M, Begic D, Nikolac Perkovic M, Kozmar A, Rogic D, et al. Increased interleukin-6 levels in responders with treatment-resistant depression after bright light therapy. Biomolecules. 2025;15:295.
Gasparini A, Callegari C, Lucca G, Bellini A, Caselli I, Ielmini M. Inflammatory biomarker and response to antidepressant in major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychopharmacol Bull. 2022;52:36–52.
Sampson E, Mills NT, Hori H, Cearns M, Schwarte K, Hohoff C, et al. Long-term characterisation of the relationship between change in depression severity and change in inflammatory markers following inflammation-stratified treatment with vortioxetine augmented with celecoxib or placebo. Brain Behav Immun. 2025;123:43–56.
Diniz BS, Seitz-Holland J, Sehgal R, Kasamoto J, Higgins-Chen AT, Lenze E. Geroscience-centric perspective for geriatric psychiatry: integrating aging biology with geriatric mental health research. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2024;32:1–16.
Seitz-Holland J, Mulsant BH, Reynolds CF, Blumberger DM, Karp JF, Butters MA, et al. Major depression, physical health and molecular senescence markers abnormalities. Nat Ment Health. 2023;1:200–9.
Diniz BS, Vieira EM, Mendes-Silva AP, Bowie CR, Butters MA, Fischer CE, et al. Mild cognitive impairment and major depressive disorder are associated with molecular senescence abnormalities in older adults. Alzheimers Dement. 2021;7:e12129.
Diniz BS, Reynolds CF, Sibille E, Lin CW, Tseng G, Lotrich F, et al. Enhanced molecular aging in late-life depression: the senescent-associated secretory phenotype. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2017;25:64–72.
Diniz BS, Mulsant BH, Reynolds CF, Blumberger D, Karp JF, Butters MA, et al. Association of molecular senescence markers in late-life depression with clinical characteristics and treatment outcome. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5:e2219678.
Alexopoulos GS, Hoptman MJ, Kanellopoulos D, Murphy CF, Lim KO, Gunning FM. Functional connectivity in the cognitive control network and the default mode network in late-life depression. J Affect Disord. 2012;139:56–65.
Steffens DC, Wang L, Pearlson GD. Functional connectivity predictors of acute depression treatment outcome. Int Psychogeriatr. 2019;31:1831–5.
Oberlin LE, Victoria LW, Ilieva I, Dunlop K, Hoptman MJ, Avari J, et al. Comparison of functional and structural neural network features in older adults with depression with vs without apathy and association with response to escitalopram: secondary analysis of a nonrandomized clinical trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5:e2224142.
Ahmed R, Boyd BD, Elson D, Albert K, Begnoche P, Kang H, et al. Influences of resting-state intrinsic functional brain connectivity on the antidepressant treatment response in late-life depression. Psychol Med. 2023;53:6261–70.
Ribeiz SR, Duran F, Oliveira MC, Bezerra D, Castro CC, Steffens DC, et al. Structural brain changes as biomarkers and outcome predictors in patients with late-life depression: a cross-sectional and prospective study. PLoS ONE. 2013;8:e80049.
Bouckaert F, De Winter FL, Emsell L, Dols A, Rhebergen D, Wampers M, et al. Grey matter volume increase following electroconvulsive therapy in patients with late life depression: a longitudinal MRI study. J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2016;41:105–14.
Marano CM, Workman CI, Lyman CH, Munro CA, Kraut MA, Smith GS. Structural imaging in late-life depression: association with mood and cognitive responses to antidepressant treatment. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2015;23:4–12.
Bouckaert F, Emsell L, Vansteelandt K, De Winter FL, Van den Stock J, Obbels J, et al. Electroconvulsive therapy response in late-life depression unaffected by age-related brain changes. J Affect Disord. 2019;251:114–20.
Victoria LW, Alexopoulos GS, Ilieva I, Stein AT, Hoptman MJ, Chowdhury N, et al. White matter abnormalities predict residual negative self-referential thinking following treatment of late-life depression with escitalopram: A preliminary study. J Affect Disord. 2019;243:62–9.
He X, Pueraro E, Kim Y, Garcia CM, Maas B, Choi J, et al. Association of white matter integrity with executive function and antidepressant treatment outcome in patients with late-life depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2021;29:1188–98.
Narushima K, McCormick LM, Yamada T, Thatcher RW, Robinson RG. Subgenual cingulate theta activity predicts treatment response of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in participants with vascular depression. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2010;22:75–84.
Ha J, Fang Y, Kittur C, Cron GO, Song OK, Park JY, et al. Effect of combined transcranial direct current stimulation and cognitive training on brain microstructure and network homogeneity in late-life depression: a pilot study. J Affect Disord Rep. 2025;21:100973.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Steffens was responsible for the final draft of the manuscript. Diniz, Jain, Kluewer-D’Amico, Manning, and Wang each contributed to the writing of a section based on their expertise.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Steffens, D.C., Diniz, B.S., Jain, N. et al. Moderators of treatment response in late-life depression. Neuropsychopharmacol. (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-026-02337-x
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Version of record:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-026-02337-x


