Biomarkers and Depressive Symptoms in a Sample of Cognitively Intact and Alzheimer’s Disease Elderly Males

James R. Hall,Scott Winter,Sid E. O’Bryant,Hoa T. Vo,Robert C. Barber,Leigh A. Johnson

doi:10.4236/nm.2011.24040

James R. Hall, Scott Winter + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.4236/nm.2011.24040

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Abstract

Serum-based biomarkers and GDS-30 score and subscales of depressive symptoms were examined in a cross-sectional sample of 81 elderly men drawn from the TARCC cohort. Measurements included neuropsychological assessment and serum. Thirty three patients met consensus diagnosis for probable AD and forty eight were cognitively intact. Although initial regression analysis of all subjects showed significant relationships between depression and specific biomarkers, analyses based on diagnosis indicated that none of the biomarkers were significantly associated with depression among the controls. Among AD males MIF was significantly associated with total GDS scores and subscales of dysphoria, meaninglessness, and cognitive impairment. TNF-α was significantly associated with the apathy in AD males. Higher levels of MIF were associated with less depression in AD men. TNF-α was positively associated with degree of apathy. This study suggests the importance of cognitive status, gender and subtypes of depression when investigating biomarkers and depression in the elderly.

Highlights

Depression occurs among the elderly population at the rate of 10% - 15% [1] with lifetime prevalence of over 40% among men and women over 70 years of age [2]
The current study is the first to examine the relationship between serum-based biomarkers and symptoms of depression in cognitively normal and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) males
In a combined male sample, migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were associated with depressive symptoms

Summary

Introduction

Depression occurs among the elderly population at the rate of 10% - 15% [1] with lifetime prevalence of over 40% among men and women over 70 years of age [2]. Lifetime prevalence is even higher among geriatric female samples in prospective studies (43%, [2]), men tended not to report impairment in mixed-gender late-life depression studies [3]. Similar to late-life depression, cognitive impairment has a high prevalence rate among geriatric populations. Numerous studies have focused on identifying biomarkers associated with depression and/or AD (review; [5]). These efforts have failed to produce a clear-cut picture of the relationship between biomarkers, depression and AD

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