Cortical Thinning in Patients With Late-Life Minor Depression

Minor depression is diagnosed when a patient suffers from two to four depressive symptoms for at least two weeks. Though minor depression is a widespread phenomenon, its pathophysiology has hardly been studied. To get a first insight into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this disorder we assessed serum levels of biomarkers for plasticity, glial and neuronal function: brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), S100B and neuron specific enolase (NSE). Twenty-seven subjects with minor depressive episode and 82 healthy subjects over 60 years of age were selected from the database of the Leipzig population-based study of civilization diseases (LIFE). Serum levels of BDNF, S100B and NSE were compared between groups, and correlated with age, body-mass index, and degree of white matter hyperintensities (score on Fazekas scale). S100B was significantly increased in males with minor depression in comparison to healthy males, whereas other biomarkers did not differ between groups (P = 0.10–0.66). NSE correlated with Fazekas score in patients with minor depression (rs = 0.436, P = 0.048) and in the whole sample (rs = 0.252, P = 0.019). S100B correlated with body mass index (rs = 0.246, P = 0.031) and with age in healthy subjects (rs = 0.345, P = 0.002). Increased S100B in males with minor depression, without alterations in BDNF and NSE, supports the glial hypothesis of depression. Correlation between white matter hyperintensities and NSE underscores the vascular hypothesis of late life depression.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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Cellular correlates of cortical thinning throughout the lifespan

10.1101/585786 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

D. Vidal-Pineiro ◽

N. Parker ◽

J. Shin ◽

L. French ◽

H. Grydeland ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Neuronal Cell ◽

Pyramidal Cells ◽

Late Life ◽

Cell Types ◽

Brain Atlas ◽

Marker Genes ◽

Specific Gene ◽

Cortical Thinning

AbstractCortical thinning occurs throughout the entire life and extends to late-life neurodegeneration, yet the neurobiological substrates are poorly understood. Here, we used a virtual-histology technique and gene expression data from the Allen Human Brain Atlas to compare the regional profiles of longitudinal cortical thinning through life (4004 MRIs) with those of gene expression for several neuronal and non-neuronal cell types. The results were replicated in three independent longitudinal datasets. We found that inter-regional profiles of cortical thinning related to expression profiles for marker genes of CA1 pyramidal cells, astrocytes and microglia during development and in aging. During the two stages of life, the relationships went in opposite directions: greater gene expression related to less thinning in development and vice versa in aging. The association between cortical thinning and cell-specific gene expression was also present in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease. These findings suggest a role of astrocytes and microglia in promoting and supporting neuronal growth and dendritic structures through life that affects cortical thickness during development, aging, and neurodegeneration. Overall, the findings contribute to our understanding of the neurobiology underlying variations in MRI-derived estimates of cortical thinning through life and late-life disease.

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P 155 First evidence for glial pathology in late life minor depression – S100B is increased in males with minor depression – results form LIFW-adult study

Clinical Neurophysiology ◽

10.1016/j.clinph.2017.06.226 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 128 (10) ◽

pp. e403

Author(s):

M. Polyakova ◽

C. Sander ◽

K. Arelin ◽

L. Lampe ◽

T. Luck ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Late Life ◽

Minor Depression ◽

Adult Study

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Prevalence of and risk factors for minor and major depression among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610217000199 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 29 (7) ◽

pp. 1113-1121 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Chi-Shin Wu ◽

Shu-Han Yu ◽

Chun-Yi Lee ◽

Han-Yun Tseng ◽

Yen-Feng Chiu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Social Support ◽

Major Depression ◽

Life Events ◽

Late Life ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Minor Depression ◽

Prevalence Rates ◽

Late Life Depression ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

ABSTRACTBackground:This study was conducted to estimate prevalence rates and risk factors for late-life depression in a large nationwide representative sample from Taiwan.Methods:A total of 5,664, randomly sampled individuals aged ≥55 years were enrolled. Clinically, relevant depressive symptoms were classified using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D score ≥16), and major depression was confirmed using the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders. Individuals with clinically relevant depressive symptoms, who did not meet the strict diagnostic criteria for major depression, were considered to have minor depression. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify risk factors for major and minor depression, including socio-demographic characteristics, medical conditions, lifestyle behaviors, social support network, and life events.Results:The prevalence rates of minor and major depression were 3.7% and 1.5%, respectively. Major depression was associated with personal vulnerability factors, such as poor social support, cognitive impairment, comorbid pain conditions, and sleep disturbance. However, minor depression was more likely to be related to adverse life events, including increased burden on families, changes in health status, or relationship problem. Approximately, 20.0% of individuals with major depression received antidepressant treatment.Conclusions:Late-life depression was less prevalent among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan than among populations in other countries. Our findings may aid the early detection and treatment of late-life depression and provide a basis for future investigations.

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