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Updated: May 20, 2026

Animal Models of Depression - Chronic Despair Model (CDM)
Published on: September 23, 2021
Lowered serum amyloid-β1-42 autoantibodies in individuals with lifetime depression
Walter Maetzler1, Markus Langkamp, Stefanie Lerche
1Department of Neurodegeneration and Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. walter.maetzler@uni-tuebingen.de
Abstract:
Reduced levels of naturally occurring autoantibodies against amyloid-β (Aβ) have been described in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Lifetime depression doubles the risk of AD, thus these autoantibodies may also be reduced in this group. We measured serum IgG autoantibody titers against Aβ1-42, S100b and α-synuclein in 214 individuals with depression and 419 controls. Titers against Aβ1-42 were lower in individuals with lifetime depression (5544.6 ± 389.3) compared to controls (7208.7 ± 482.4; p = 0.048). Titers against S100b and α-synuclein were comparable between the cohorts. These data suggest an AD-like impairment of the humoral immune response in a relevant proportion of individuals with depression.
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