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Executive dysfunction in depression in adolescence: the role of inflammation and higher body mass

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2019

Naoise Mac Giollabhui Open the ORCID record for Naoise Mac Giollabhui [Opens in a new window] ,
Dominika Swistun ,
Susan Murray ,
Daniel P. Moriarity ,
Marin M. Kautz ,
Lauren M. Ellman ,
Thomas M. Olino ,
Christopher L. Coe ,
Lyn Y. Abramson  and
Lauren B. Alloy
Naoise Mac Giollabhui
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Dominika Swistun
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
Susan Murray
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Daniel P. Moriarity
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Marin M. Kautz
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Lauren M. Ellman
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Thomas M. Olino
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Christopher L. Coe
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
Lyn Y. Abramson
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
Lauren B. Alloy*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Lauren B. Alloy, E-mail: lalloy@temple.edu
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Abstract

Background

There is substantial evidence that many depressed individuals experience impaired executive functioning. Understanding the causes of executive dysfunction in depression is clinically important because cognitive impairment is a substantial contributor to functional impairment. This study investigated whether elevated levels of an inflammatory cytokine [interleukin-6 (IL-6)] and/or higher body mass index (BMI) concurrently and/or prospectively accounted for the relationship between depressive symptoms and impaired executive functioning in adolescents.

Methods

A diverse, community sample of adolescents (N = 288; mean age = 16.33; 51.4% female; 59.0% African-American) completed assessments of height and weight, IL-6, depressive symptoms, and self-report/behavioral measures of executive functioning (selective attention, switching attention) and future orientation annually over 3 years. Adolescents experiencing acute illness or medical conditions that affect inflammation were excluded from analyses. Path analysis within a structural equation modeling framework simultaneously examined the concurrent and prospective relationships between BMI, IL-6, depressive symptoms, and the measures of cognitive functioning across three timepoints.

Results

Across all timepoints, higher BMI was prospectively associated with higher levels of IL-6 and depressive symptoms, while higher levels of IL-6 were associated with worse performance on three behavioral and self-report measures of cognitive functioning. Higher depressive symptoms also were prospectively associated with elevated IL-6 and both higher depressive symptoms and a higher BMI predicted worse future executive functioning via increased IL-6.

Conclusions

More severe depressive symptoms and increased BMI may disrupt executive functioning via elevated IL-6.

Keywords

Adolescencebody masscognitive dysfunctiondepressionexecutive functioninginflammationinterleukin-6obesity
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 50 , Issue 4 , March 2020 , pp. 683 - 691
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019

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