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Does serotonin deplete with age? The neurobiology of age-related serotonin changes

According to a 2019 meta-analysis involving over 1,000 healthy adults, significant negative effects of age were found across several components of the serotonin system, including receptors and transporters. This research confirms that, yes, facets of the serotonin system decline with age, but the process is complex and involves more than a simple depletion of the neurotransmitter itself. It is the overall reduction in serotonergic function that affects mood, cognition, and potentially predisposes individuals to age-related neuropsychiatric disorders.