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Associations of current and remitted major depressive disorder with brain atrophy: the AGES–Reykjavik Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 May 2012

M. I. Geerlings ,
S. Sigurdsson ,
G. Eiriksdottir ,
M. E. Garcia ,
T. B. Harris ,
T. Sigurdsson ,
V. Gudnason  and
L. J. Launer
M. I. Geerlings*
Affiliation:
University Medical Center Utrecht, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, The Netherlands Laboratory for Epidemiology, Demography, and Biometry, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes on Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
S. Sigurdsson
Affiliation:
Icelandic Heart Association, Kopavogur, Iceland
G. Eiriksdottir
Affiliation:
Icelandic Heart Association, Kopavogur, Iceland
M. E. Garcia
Affiliation:
Laboratory for Epidemiology, Demography, and Biometry, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes on Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
T. B. Harris
Affiliation:
Laboratory for Epidemiology, Demography, and Biometry, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes on Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
T. Sigurdsson
Affiliation:
Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland
V. Gudnason
Affiliation:
Icelandic Heart Association, Kopavogur, Iceland University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
L. J. Launer*
Affiliation:
Laboratory for Epidemiology, Demography, and Biometry, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes on Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
*
(Email: m.geerlings@umcutrecht.nl) [M. I. Geerlings]
*Address for correspondence: Dr L. J. Launer, Laboratory for Epidemiology, Demography, and Biometry, National Institute on Aging, Gateway Building, Room 3C309, 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 208920, USA. (Email: launerl@nia.nih.gov) [L. J. Launer]
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Abstract

Background

To examine whether lifetime DSM-IV diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD), including age at onset and number of episodes, is associated with brain atrophy in older persons without dementia.

Method

Within the population-based Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility (AGES)–Reykjavik Study, 4354 persons (mean age 76 ± 5 years, 58% women) without dementia had a 1.5-T brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. Automated brain segmentation total and regional brain volumes were calculated. History of MDD, including age at onset and number of episodes, and MDD in the past 2 weeks was diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI).

Results

Of the total sample, 4.5% reported a lifetime history of MDD; 1.5% had a current diagnosis of MDD (including 75% with a prior history of depression) and 3.0% had a past but no current diagnosis (remission). After adjusting for multiple covariates, compared to participants never depressed, those with current MDD (irrespective of past) had more global brain atrophy [B = –1.25%, 95% confidence interval (CI) −2.05 to −0.44], including more gray- and white-matter atrophy in most lobes, and also more atrophy of the hippocampus and thalamus. Participants with current, first-onset MDD also had more brain atrophy (B = –1.62%, 95% CI −3.30 to 0.05) whereas those remitted did not (B = 0.06%, 95% CI −0.54 to 0.66).

Conclusions

In older persons without dementia, current MDD, irrespective of prior history, but not remitted MDD was associated with widespread gray- and white-matter brain atrophy. Prospective studies should examine whether MDD is a consequence of, or contributes to, brain volume loss and development of dementia.

Keywords

BraincohortdepressioneldersMRI
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 43 , Issue 2 , February 2013 , pp. 317 - 328
Creative Commons
This work is of the U.S. Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States
Copyright
Cambridge University Press 2012

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