Acetylcholinesterase inhibition and symptoms of depression and anxiety among adolescents in agricultural communities in Ecuador: transient effects on mood.

Abstract

TPS 731: Neurological effects in children, Exhibition Hall, Ground floor, August 26, 2019, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Background: The cholinergic system has an important roles in mood regulation. Cholinesterase inhibitor pesticides (e.g. organophosphates) appear to increase depression and anxiety symptoms in the few existing animal and human studies. As growing evidence also suggests that pesticide exposures may induce short-term neurobehavioral alterations in children, in the present study we aimed to assess whether acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition (reflecting greater exposure to cholinesterase inhibitors) between 2 time periods within the same year would be associated with mental health alterations. Methods: Methods: We analyzed data of 310 adolescents (ages 11-17y, 51% female) living in agricultural communities in the Ecuadorian Andes (ESPINA study). Participants were examined twice: in April 2016 and July-October 2019. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was measured in a finger-stick sample at both time points. Anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed using the CDI-2 and MASC-2 (greater scores reflect greater internalizing symptoms). Models adjusted for age, gender, anthropometrics, hemoglobin, parental education, among others. Results: The mean (SD) of the following parameters were: AChE change -13% (0.48), depression T-score 52.9 (9.5) and anxiety T-score: 58.1 (9.7). Greater AChE inhibition (reflecting greater cholinesterase inhibitor exposure) was associated with higher depression symptoms (difference per 10% decrease of AChE, β [95% CI:]: 0.92 [0.07, 1.77]). These associations were stronger in girls (1.10 [0.15, 2.04]) than boys (0.40 [-1.30, 2.09]). No associations were observed with anxiety scores. Discussion: We observed that inhibition of AChE between 2 agricultural seasons was associated with greater depression symptoms in adolescents. This is the first study to describe associations between change of a biomarker of pesticide exposure and depression symptoms among children and is among the largest studies of its kind. These findings concur with previous cross-sectional findings and suggest that AChE inhibition may transiently affect the mood of adolescents.