Cognitive, anxiety and depressive disorders in middelage subjects with metabolic syndrome are associated with elevated endocannabinoid plasma level

Abstract

Obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS) are associated with an increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders, such as mood disorders and cognitive disorders. Endocannabinoids (EC) are neuromodulators which are involved in a plenty of physiological processes: regulation of motor activity, neuroprotection, modulation of immune function and inflammatory responses, antiproliferative actions in tumoral cells, control appetite. Endogenous cannabinoids play modulatory role in cognitive and emotional processes (1). Aim of this study was to evaluate a possible association between EC plasma levels, such as anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), and mental processes such as, cognitive impairment and anxiety in obesity. And thus determine the participation of the EC system in the development of cognitive and emotional disorders with obesity. Methods and results Data analyzed from 271 patients with MS according IDF criteria (aged 30–60years). Current mild cognitive impairment (MCI), depressive (D) and anxiety disorders (A) were confirmed by psychodiagnostic interview according to the criteria of ICD-10. All patients passed through: MMSE test, scales HADS, HARS, HAM-A. Determining the ES level (anandamide, 2-AG) by liquid chromatography. Subjects were divided into 2 groups, group A – with D and/or A (139) and group B – without affective disorders (132). Using Mann-Whitney test significant connection between high levels of 2-AG level and affective disorders in group A were obtained. Subjects with D and A and MCI had higher level of 2-AG and AEA in comparison with only MCI. Conclusion Increased levels of 2-AG and AEA provoke comorbidity of MCI depression and anxiety.