Depression and PTSD are linked to poor health outcomes similar to aging. Ketamine infusions rapidly reduce symptoms of treatment-resistant depression and PTSD. In 20 participants with moderate to severe depression or trauma, a 2-3 week course of 0.5 mg/kg ketamine infusions reduced depression and PTSD scores. Epigenetic age, measured by OMICmAge, GrimAge V2, and PhenoAge biomarkers, decreased after treatment. Changes in underlying epigenetic biomarker proxies and surrogate protein markers were also observed. The findings align with prior research on ketamine's epigenetic effects and suggest these biomarkers capture signals related to clinical improvement and biological aging.
Ketamine infusions reduced symptoms of depression and PTSD in 20 participants with major depressive disorder or posttraumatic stress disorder. The treatment also lowered biological age as measured by three epigenetic biomarkers (OMICmAge, GrimAge V2, and PhenoAge), indicating a potential reversal of accelerated aging linked to these conditions. Changes in underlying epigenetic biomarker proxies and surrogate protein markers accompanied the age reduction. The findings align with prior research on ketamine's effects and suggest that these epigenetic clocks can capture signals related to clinical improvements.