Depressive symptoms (HAM score ≥10) were associated with an increased risk of incident Alzheimer's disease (HR 3.4; 95% CI 1.5-8.1), independent of vascular risk factors and stroke.
Cohort (n=526)
Do depressive symptoms increase the risk of incident Alzheimer's disease independently of vascular risk factors in elderly persons without dementia?
Depressive symptoms are prospectively associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, and this association is not explained by a history of vascular risk factors or stroke.
Hazard Ratio: 3.4 (95% CI 1.5–8.1)
p-value: p=0.004
BACKGROUND: Depressive symptoms in the elderly are associated with an increased Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk. We sought to determine whether the association between depressive symptoms and AD is explained by a history of vascular risk factors and stroke. METHODS: Five hundred and twenty-six elderly persons from New York City without dementia at baseline were followed for a mean of 5 years. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM). Incident AD was ascertained using standard criteria. Diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, current smoking and stroke were ascertained by self-report. Proportional hazards regression was used to relate HAM scores to incident AD. RESULTS: HAM scores were higher in persons with hypertension, heart disease, and stroke, which in turn were related to higher AD risk. AD risk increased with increasing HAM scores as a continuous logarithmically transformed variable (HR for one point increase=1.4; 95% CI=1.1,1.8) and as a categorical variable (HR for HAM >or= 10=3.4; 95% CI=1.5,8.1; p for trend=0.004 with HAM=0 as the reference). These results were virtually unchanged after adjustment for vascular risk factors and stroke, individually (HR for HAM >or= 10=3.4; 95% CI=1.5,8.1; p for trend = 0.004), and in a composite measure (HR for HAM >or= 10=3.0; 95% CI=1.2,7.8; p for trend=0.02). CONCLUSION: The prospective relation between depressive symptoms and AD is not explained by a history of vascular risk factors and stroke, suggesting that other mechanisms may account for this association.
Luchsinger et al. (Mon,) conducted a cohort in Alzheimer's disease (n=526). Depressive symptoms vs. No depressive symptoms (HAM=0) was evaluated on Incident Alzheimer's disease (HR 3.4, 95% CI 1.5-8.1, p=0.004). Depressive symptoms (HAM score ≥10) were associated with an increased risk of incident Alzheimer's disease (HR 3.4; 95% CI 1.5-8.1), independent of vascular risk factors and stroke.
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