Key result
MRI markers of vascular brain disease were associated with depression cross-sectionally but not with the 92 incident cases of depressive symptoms observed longitudinally.
Why the study?
Do markers of vascular brain disease predict incident depression in the elderly?
Cohort (n=479)
Do markers of vascular brain disease predict incident depression in the elderly?
While vascular brain disease markers correlate with depression cross-sectionally, they do not predict incident depression longitudinally in the elderly, challenging the causal direction of the vascular depression hypothesis.
Should not yet inform depression risk prediction in the elderly; leaves open the vascular depression hypothesis for larger studies.
BACKGROUND: Cross-sectional studies have shown an association between vascular brain disease and depression. Longitudinal data are scarce. In a population-based study we investigated this relationship both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. METHODS: Brain MRIs were administered to 479 persons aged 60-90 years at baseline (1995-1996). Brain atrophy, white matter lesions and brain infarcts are all markers of vascular brain disease. At baseline and at follow-up examinations, we also identified persons with depressive symptoms and syndromes using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and psychiatric interviews. Medical records were continuously monitored to identify incident depression. Follow-up was complete until October 2005. RESULTS: At baseline, 36 persons had depressive symptoms. Brain atrophy, white matter lesions, and infarcts were associated with presence of depressive symptoms. During follow-up, 92 persons developed depressive symptoms, 35 of whom were categorized as having depressive syndrome. There was no association of any MRI marker with incident depressive symptoms or syndromes. CONCLUSIONS: Markers of vascular brain disease were associated with depression cross-sectionally. However, when these markers and risk of depression were assessed longitudinally, no relationship was found.
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Ikram et al. (2009) conducted a cohort in Depression and vascular brain disease (n=479). Vascular brain disease markers (brain atrophy, white matter lesions, brain infarcts) vs. Absence of vascular brain disease markers was evaluated on Incident depressive symptoms or syndromes. MRI markers of vascular brain disease were associated with depression cross-sectionally but not with the 92 incident cases of depressive symptoms observed longitudinally.
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