Association between Sarcopenia-related traits and depression: an observational and Mendelian randomization analysis

Sarcopenia and depression are common among older people. However, the association between the two remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the relationship between sarcopenia-related traits and depression.

This observational study included 5,466 participants from the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We performed logistic regression, subgroup, and restricted cubic spline analyses to examine the relationship between sarcopenia and depression. Bidirectional two-sample and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were performed to examine the causal relationship between sarcopenia and depression.

We noted that body mass index (BMI)-adjusted appendicular lean mass (ALM) (ALM/BMI) and grip strength were negatively correlated with depression. Restricted cubic spline analysis confirmed a negative linear relationship between these traits and depression. Subgroup analyses revealed sex-related differences in the association of ALM/BMI and grip strength with depression. In the MR analyses, genetically predicted ALM, grip strength, and walking speed were causally associated with depression. These findings remained robust in the sensitivity analysis. In the multivariable MR analysis, ALM and grip strength retained this robust relationship.

Our findings suggest that ALM and grip strength are negatively correlated with depression and have a bidirectional causal relationship. This finding underscores the importance of timely identification and intervention for depression as a means of preventing sarcopenia.