Long-term depressive symptoms and midlife brain age

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Cognitive Aging

Background:

• Depression is a known risk factor for dementia in older adults.
• The impact of early-life depressive symptoms on brain health is less understood.
• This study investigates the link between long-term depressive symptoms and brain age in young to mid-adulthood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between persistent depressive symptoms from young adulthood to midlife and brain age.
• To determine if long-term depressive symptoms predict accelerated brain aging.
• To explore the relationship between depressive symptoms and cognitive function in midlife.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study.
• Included 649 participants with brain MRI and cognitive testing (baseline age 23-36).
• Assessed depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D) over 25 years, calculating time-weighted averages (TWA). Brain age was derived from structural MRI using neuroimaging pattern analysis. Linear regression analyzed associations.

Main Results:

• Each 5-point increase in TWA depressive symptoms over 25 years correlated with a 1-year increase in brain age.
• Participants with elevated TWA depressive symptoms showed an average 3-year greater brain age.
• Elevated depressive symptoms were associated with a 3.30-fold increased odds of poor midlife cognitive function.

Conclusions:

• Persistent depressive symptoms in early adulthood are associated with accelerated brain aging.
• These findings suggest early depressive symptoms may negatively impact brain health by midlife.
• Highlights the importance of addressing mental health in young adulthood for long-term cognitive well-being.