Neuropathology of depression in non-demented older adults: A large postmortem study of 741 individuals

Author(s)

Nunes, Paula Villela ; Suemoto, Claudia Kimie ; Rodriguez, Roberta Diehl ; Leite, Renata Elaine Paraizo ; Nascimento, Camila ; Pasqualucci, Carlos Augusto ; Nitrini, Ricardo ; Jacob-Filho, Wilson ; Grinberg, Lea T. ; Lafer, Beny

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: NEUROBIOLOGY OF AGING; v. 117, p. 10-pg., 2022-06-13.

Abstract

Associations between age-related neuropathological lesions and adult-onset lifetime major depressive disorder (a-MDD), late-life MDD (LLD), or depressive symptoms close to death (DS) were examined in a large community sample of non-demented older adults. Seven hundred forty-one individuals (age at death = 72.2 +/- 11.7 years) from the Biobank for Aging Studies were analyzed. a-MDD was present in 54 (7.3%) participants, LLD in 80 (10.8%), and DS in 168 (22.7%). After adjustment for covariates and compared to controls, a-MDD, LDD and DS were associated with small vessel disease ( p = 0.039, p = 0.003, and p = 0.003 respectively); LLD, and DS were associated with brain infarcts ( p = 0.012, p = 0.018, respectively) and Lewy body disease ( p = 0.043, p = 0.002, respectively). DS was associated with betaamyloid plaque burden ( p = 0.027) and cerebral amyloid angiopathy ( p = 0.035) in cognitively normal individuals (Clinical Dementia Rating scale = 0). Vascular brain pathology was the strongest correlate of clinical depictions of depression in the absence of dementia, corroborating the vascular hypothesis of depression. Lewy body pathology underlay DS. An older adult with DS or LLD should be monitored for possible cognitive decline or neurodegenerative disorders.(c) 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/24326-0 - Characterization of tau astrogliopathy on aging and neurodegenerative diseases
• Grantee: Roberta Diehl Rodriguez
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 17/07089-8 - Investigating TDP-43 as neuromarker of Bipolar Disorder
• Grantee: Camila Nascimento Mantelli
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 18/16626-0 - Study of causes of mortality among the different forms of dementia in data series from community sample submitted to autopsy and anatomic pathological analysis
• Grantee: Beatriz Astolfi Neves
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation