The major goal of the proposed study is to investigate the structural mechanisms linking depression and dementia. Specifically we will examine 1) whether demented individuals with a significant history of depression have a higher prevalence of white matter hypodensities (WMH), cerebral atrophy, basal gangliathalamic lesions, or cerebral infarct on computed tomographic (CT) scans, compared to individuals with dementia and no significant history of depression, 2) whether these differences between individuals with and individuals without depression vary based upon the timing of the onset of depression, and 3) whether depression alone affects the course of dementia. The proposed study will use a population-based sample of data drawn from individuals who participated in the Study of Dementia in Swedish Twins, which includes all twins from the Swedish Twin Registry who were at least age 65 and alive during the screening phase. Our sample (N=620) will consist of all twins diagnosed with dementia, a subset of whom (N=280) had a CT scan performed as part of the clinical phase of dementia assessment. CT scans will be assessed using visual rating scales for the extent or density of WMH throughout the periventricular and subcortical white matter, the sulcal and ventricular enlargement as a measure of overall atrophy, as well as for the presence of basal ganglia-thalamic lesions and number of infarcts. Analyses will include ordered logit analysis, multiple analysis of covariance, and Cox proportional hazard models. Age, gender, education, and vascular disease will all be examined as potential confounders. Analyses will be conducted for total dementia and for Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia alone. The import of this research project is underscored in the recommendations provided by the proceedings of the 2003 NIMH conference """"""""Perspectives on Depression, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Cognitive Decline"""""""" (Steffens et al., 2006), which state that """"""""[additional studies are needed to followup on the implications of these [underlying neurobiological disturbances] to understand the mechanisms linking depression and dementia"""""""" (pp. 134-135). For older adults with dementia and depression, there are important public health implications to identifying whether depression increases the structural changes in the brain commonly associated with dementia, or if it exacerbates the cognitive symptoms of dementia, without producing any additional structural changes. Since the clinical reality is that nearly one-quarter of older adults experience significant depression and approximately the same proportion experience cognitive impairment, this truly is a """"""""current research imperative"""""""" (Steffens et al., 2006, p. 130).

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
5F31MH078331-02
Application #
7523218
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F16-T (20))
Program Officer
Rubio, Mercedes
Project Start
2008-01-01
Project End
2009-12-31
Budget Start
2009-01-01
Budget End
2009-12-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$41,176
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Southern California
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
072933393
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90089
Brommelhoff, Jessica A; Spann, Bryan M; Go, John L et al. (2011) Striatal Hypodensities, Not White Matter Hypodensities on CT, Are Associated with Late-Onset Depression in Alzheimer's Disease. J Aging Res 2011:187219
Brommelhoff, Jessica A; Gatz, Margaret; Johansson, Boo et al. (2009) Depression as a risk factor or prodromal feature for dementia? Findings in a population-based sample of Swedish twins. Psychol Aging 24:373-84