Title | Chronic Systemic Inflammation Is Associated With Symptoms of Late-Life Depression: The ARIC Study. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2020 |
Authors | Sonsin-Diaz N, Gottesman RF, Fracica E, Walston J, B Windham G, Knopman DS |
Secondary Authors | Walker KA |
Journal | Am J Geriatr Psychiatry |
Volume | 28 |
Issue | 1 |
Pagination | 87-98 |
Date Published | 2020 01 |
ISSN | 1545-7214 |
Abstract | OBJECTIVE: The current study examined how the pattern of systemic inflammation in the decades leading up to late-life relates to depression symptoms in older adults. METHODS: Within the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, we measured high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), a nonspecific marker of systemic inflammation, at three visits: 21 years and 14 years before, and concurrent with the assessment of depression symptoms, defined using the 11-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CESD) scale. We categorized participants into one of four groups based on their 21-year longitudinal pattern of elevated (≥3 mg/L) versus low ( RESULTS: A total of 4,614 participants were included (age at CESD assessment: 75.5 [SD: 5.1]; 59% female; follow-up time: 20.7 years [SD: 1.0]). Compared to participants who maintained low CRP levels (stable low), participants who had elevated CRP at two of three visits (unstable elevated; ß = 0.09; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02, 0.17) and participants who maintained elevated CRP at all three visits (stable elevated; ß = 0.13; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.21) had greater depression symptoms as older adults, after adjusting for confounders. After excluding participants with late-life cognitive impairment, only participants with stable elevated CRP demonstrated significantly greater late-life depression symptoms. In a secondary analysis, stable elevated CRP was associated with increased risk for clinically significant late-life depression symptoms. CONCLUSION: Chronic or repeated inflammation in the decades leading up to older adulthood is associated with late-life depression, even in the context of normal cognition. |
DOI | 10.1016/j.jagp.2019.05.011 |
Alternate Journal | Am J Geriatr Psychiatry |
PubMed ID | 31182350 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC6868307 |
Grant List | U01 HL096812 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States T32 AG027668 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States U01 HL096917 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States HHSN268201700001I / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States HHSN268201700004I / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States U01 HL096814 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States R01 HL070825 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States U01 HL096899 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States HHSN268201700003I / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States U01 HL096902 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States P30 AG021334 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States K24 AG052573 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States HHSN268201700002I / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States HHSN268201700005I / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States |