FC23-02 - Gender and genotype modulation of the association between lipid levels and depressive symptomatology in community-dwelling elderly

Abstract

BackgroundLipids appear to mediate depressive vulnerability in the elderly, however, sex differences and genetic vulnerability have not been taken into account in previous prospective studies.MethodsDepression was assessed in a population of 1040 women and 752 men aged 65 years and over at baseline and after 7-year follow-up. Clinical level of depression (DEP) was defined as having either a score of 16 and above on the Centre for Epidemiology Studies Depression scale or a diagnosis of current major depression on the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Lipid levels, apolipoprotein E and serotonin transporter linked promoter region (5-HTTLPR) genotypes were evaluated at baseline.ResultsMultivariate analyses adjusted by socio-demographic and behavioral variables, measures of physical health including ischemic pathologies, and genetic vulnerability indicated gender-specific associations between dyslipidemia and DEP, independent of the use of lipid lowering agents or apolipoprotein E status. Men with low LDL-cholesterol levels had twice the risk of prevalent and incident DEP whereas in women low HDL-cholesterol levels were found to be significantly associated with increased prevalent DEP (OR = 1.5) only. A significant interaction was observed between low LDL-cholesterol and 5-HTTLPR genotype, men with s/s or s/l genotype being at increased risk of DEP (OR = 6.0 and 2.7, respectively). No significant gene-environment interaction was observed for women.ConclusionsDEP is associated with higher atherogenic risk in women (low HDL-cholesterol), whereas the reverse is observed in men (low LDL-cholesterol). Late-life depression may have a complex gender-specific etiology involving genetic vulnerability in men.