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Relationship between atherosclerosis and late-life depression: the Rotterdam Study
Henning Tiemeier1, Wim van Dijck, Albert Hofman
1Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Archives of General Psychiatry
|April 7, 2004
Summary
Atherosclerosis, a condition of hardened arteries, is linked to a higher prevalence of depression in older adults. This study suggests a connection between vascular health and mental well-being in the elderly population.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Late-life depression is often associated with vascular abnormalities.
- Studies indicate a link between brain infarcts and depressive disorders.
- Depression is also related to the development of ischemic heart disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between atherosclerosis in various locations and depression in the general elderly population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted using data from the Rotterdam Study.
- Atherosclerosis was assessed in 4019 individuals aged 60+ by measuring carotid intima-media thickness, carotid plaques, ankle-brachial blood pressure index, and aortic atherosclerosis.
- Depressive symptoms were screened, and screen-positive subjects underwent psychiatric interviews for depressive disorder diagnosis.
Main Results:
- More severe extracoronary atherosclerosis correlated with a higher prevalence of depressive disorders, with a 30% increase per standard deviation.
- Severe coronary and aortic calcifications showed a strong relationship with depressive disorders (OR, 3.89 and 2.00, respectively).
Conclusions:
- Atherosclerosis and depression are associated in the elderly, supporting the vascular depression hypothesis.
- The cross-sectional design prevents causal inferences; earlier depressive episodes might contribute to atherosclerosis development.