Poststroke Depressive Symptoms Are Associated With Increased Oxidative Deoxyribonucleic Acid Damage

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biochemistry
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Poststroke depression (PSD) is linked to adverse outcomes including mortality and disability.
• Understanding PSD mechanisms and biomarkers is crucial for effective treatment.
• Current research lacks detailed insights into PSD's biological underpinnings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between depressive symptoms and biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation in subacute ischemic stroke patients.
• To identify potential biomarkers for poststroke depression.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 139 subacute ischemic stroke patients.
• Depression assessed using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).
• Evaluated oxidative stress (urinary 8-hydroxy-2 -deoxyguanosine [8-OHdG]), inflammation (C-reactive protein), and sleep (polysomnography).

Main Results:

• PHQ-9 scores correlated with total antioxidant capacity, C-reactive protein, and urinary 8-OHdG.
• Urinary 8-OHdG remained significantly correlated with PHQ-9 scores after adjusting for multiple factors.
• Depressive symptoms were associated with increased oxidative DNA damage.

Conclusions:

• Depressive symptoms in subacute ischemic stroke patients are related to elevated oxidative DNA damage.
• Urinary 8-OHdG shows potential as a biomarker for poststroke depression.
• Further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm causality.