Abstract
Background
The influence of white matter lesions on depressive symptoms in healthy ageing populations remains unclear. In this study, we examined the relationship between depressive symptoms and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detected cerebrovascular disease in a normal population living independently in the community, and measured the influence of location of brain abnormalities, fluid intelligence, living alone, and sex.
Methods
Prospective cohort: 497 community dwelling individuals all born in 1936, who took part in the Scottish Mental Survey of 1947, were followed up in 2000 and at biannual intervals in a longitudinal study of health and cognitive aging. Two hundred forty-four volunteered for brain MRI in 2004–2006. Suitable data were available in 219/244, of whom 115 were men. Brain hyperintensities in lobar white matter, basal ganglia , periventricular, and infratentorial regions were measured using Scheltens’ scale. Depressed mood was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) on three biannual intervals. Relationships between Scheltens’ scores, HADS-D scores, fluid intelligence, living alone, and sex were assessed using general linear modeling.
Results
The main predictor of depressive symptom scores was poorer fluid intelligence (partial ¿2 =0.023–0.028, P < .05). Ischemic change in the brainstem (partial ¿2 = 0.026, P =.05) and basal ganglia (partial ¿2 =0.018, P = .05) also predicted HADS-D scores. There was no relationship with sex or living alone.
Conclusions
Hyperintensities in the brainstem and basal ganglia are associated with depressive symptoms. Higher fluid intelligence is associated with lower depressive symptoms in this normal, ageing population.
The influence of white matter lesions on depressive symptoms in healthy ageing populations remains unclear. In this study, we examined the relationship between depressive symptoms and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detected cerebrovascular disease in a normal population living independently in the community, and measured the influence of location of brain abnormalities, fluid intelligence, living alone, and sex.
Methods
Prospective cohort: 497 community dwelling individuals all born in 1936, who took part in the Scottish Mental Survey of 1947, were followed up in 2000 and at biannual intervals in a longitudinal study of health and cognitive aging. Two hundred forty-four volunteered for brain MRI in 2004–2006. Suitable data were available in 219/244, of whom 115 were men. Brain hyperintensities in lobar white matter, basal ganglia , periventricular, and infratentorial regions were measured using Scheltens’ scale. Depressed mood was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) on three biannual intervals. Relationships between Scheltens’ scores, HADS-D scores, fluid intelligence, living alone, and sex were assessed using general linear modeling.
Results
The main predictor of depressive symptom scores was poorer fluid intelligence (partial ¿2 =0.023–0.028, P < .05). Ischemic change in the brainstem (partial ¿2 = 0.026, P =.05) and basal ganglia (partial ¿2 =0.018, P = .05) also predicted HADS-D scores. There was no relationship with sex or living alone.
Conclusions
Hyperintensities in the brainstem and basal ganglia are associated with depressive symptoms. Higher fluid intelligence is associated with lower depressive symptoms in this normal, ageing population.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 77-84 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Depression and Anxiety |
Volume | 30 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | 16 Nov 2012 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jan 2013 |
Keywords
- depressive symptoms
- elderly
- white matter hyperintensities
- fluid intelligence
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Aberdeen Birth Cohort Study 1936 (ABC 1936)
Craig, L. (Data Manager), University of Aberdeen, 1997
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/aberdeen-birth-cohort/ and one more link, https://www.abdn.ac.uk/birth-cohorts/1936/for-researchers/data-access/?action=subpage (show fewer)
Dataset