TY - JOUR
T1 - Markers of cerebral small vessel disease and severity of depression in the general population
AU - Direk, Nese
AU - Perez, Heidi Saavedra
AU - Akoudad, Saloua
AU - Verhaaren, Benjamin F J
AU - Niessen, Wiro J.
AU - Hofman, Albert
AU - Vernooij, Meike W.
AU - Ikram, M. Arfan
AU - Tiemeier, Henning
PY - 2016/7/30
Y1 - 2016/7/30
N2 - The vascular depression hypothesis postulates that cerebral small vessel disease can cause or exacerbate depression in elderly persons. Numerous studies explored the association of imaging markers of cerebral small vessel disease including white matter lesions (WMLs) and lacunar infarcts with depressive symptoms or disorders. However, cerebral microbleeds have not been tested in depression. In the current study, we aimed to explore the association of WMLs, lacunar infarcts and cerebral microbleeds with depression continuum in a large population-based sample, the Rotterdam Study. Study population consisted of 3799 participants (aged 45 or over) free of dementia. WML volumes, lacunar infarcts and cerebral microbleeds were measured with brain magnetic resonance imaging. Depressive symptoms, depressive disorders and co-morbid anxiety disorders were assessed with validated questionnaires and clinical interview. WML volumes and lacunar infarcts were associated with depressive symptoms and disorders. Cerebral microbleeds, especially in deep or infratentorial brain regions, were related to depressive disorders only. Our results indicate that WMLs and lacunar infarcts might be non-specific vascular lesions seen in depressive symptoms and disorders. Association of cerebral microbleeds with more severe forms of depression may indicate impaired brain iron homeostasis or minor episodes of cerebrovascular extraversion, which may play a role in depression etiology.
AB - The vascular depression hypothesis postulates that cerebral small vessel disease can cause or exacerbate depression in elderly persons. Numerous studies explored the association of imaging markers of cerebral small vessel disease including white matter lesions (WMLs) and lacunar infarcts with depressive symptoms or disorders. However, cerebral microbleeds have not been tested in depression. In the current study, we aimed to explore the association of WMLs, lacunar infarcts and cerebral microbleeds with depression continuum in a large population-based sample, the Rotterdam Study. Study population consisted of 3799 participants (aged 45 or over) free of dementia. WML volumes, lacunar infarcts and cerebral microbleeds were measured with brain magnetic resonance imaging. Depressive symptoms, depressive disorders and co-morbid anxiety disorders were assessed with validated questionnaires and clinical interview. WML volumes and lacunar infarcts were associated with depressive symptoms and disorders. Cerebral microbleeds, especially in deep or infratentorial brain regions, were related to depressive disorders only. Our results indicate that WMLs and lacunar infarcts might be non-specific vascular lesions seen in depressive symptoms and disorders. Association of cerebral microbleeds with more severe forms of depression may indicate impaired brain iron homeostasis or minor episodes of cerebrovascular extraversion, which may play a role in depression etiology.
KW - Anxiety
KW - Cerebral microbleeds
KW - Depressive iisorders
KW - Depressive symptoms
KW - Lacunar infracts
KW - Vascular depression
KW - White matter lesions
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84969791858&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2016.05.002
DO - 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2016.05.002
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84969791858
SN - 0925-4927
VL - 253
SP - 1
EP - 6
JO - Psychiatry Research - Neuroimaging
JF - Psychiatry Research - Neuroimaging
ER -