Ozonized autohaemotransfusion could be a potential rapid-acting antidepressant medication in elderly patients

Abstract Objective - To determine if, in aged subjects suffering from a mild to moderate depression and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), ozonized autohaemotransfusion exerts rapid and sustained antidepressant effects and positively influenced the cognitive impairment. Methods - Sixteen aged subjects were autohaemotransfused twice (once with ozonized, the other with nonozonized blood) at four day interval. Before ( t0 ) and 30 minutes( t1 ) and 48 hours ( t2 ) after the end of autohaemotransfusions, serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were measured and rating tests for both depression and memory capacity were performed. Twelve of the sixteen participants received a long-term treatment of ozonized autohaemotransfusion over six weeks at the rythm of two autohaemotransfusion per week ; serum level of BDNF and rating tests for depression and memory abilities were measured in these subjects 14 days after the last ozonized autohaemotransfusion. Results - A single ozonized autohaemotransfusion induced a rapid (within minutes) antidepressant effect in elderly patients with mild to moderate depression and mild cognitive impairment; this effect remained significant for, at least, 48 hours The long-term treatment confirmed the antidepressant effect of ozonization and also demonstrated a significant increase of serum levels of BDNF. Conclusion – The findings suggest that ozonized autohaemotransfusion is a new antidepressant agent capable of enhancing BDNF levels and, above all, with a very rapid onset of the antidepressant effect and quite free of adverse effects.