Progression of cerebral white matter lesions is not associated with development of depressive symptoms in elderly subjects at risk of cardiovascular disease. The PROSPER Study

✍ Scribed by C. E. Versluis; R. C. van der Mast; M. A. van Buchem; E. L. E. M. Bollen; G. J. Blauw; J. A. H. Eekhof; N. J. A. van der Wee; A. J. M. de Craen

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 82 KB
• Volume: 21
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6230
• DOI: 10.1002/gps.1477

✦ Synopsis

Background:

Cerebral white matter hyperintensities on magnetic resonance imaging (mri) scans have been associated with vascular disease and late-life depression, both in the general population and in psychiatric patients. therefore, a cerebrovascular etiology for late-onset depression has been hypothesized. however, longitudinal studies on the causal role of white matter hyperintensities in the development of depressive symptoms in elderly adults are lacking.

Objective:

To investigate the relation between white matter hyperintensities and depressive symptoms in elderly subjects at risk of cardiovascular disease.

Methods:

In the dutch sample of the prosper (prospective study of pravastatine in the elderly at risk of cardiovascular disease) cohort, 527 non-demented elderly, all aged 70 years or older, received a cranial mri scan and the 15-item geriatric depression scale, at baseline and 33 months (sd 1.6) later.

Results:

Presence of white matter hyperintensities at baseline was not related to baseline depressive symptoms nor to the development of depressive symptoms during follow-up. moreover, no association was found between progression of white matter lesion volume and progression of depressive symptoms.

Conclusion:

This longitudinal study does not confirm the involvement of cerebrovascular disease expressed as mri white matter hyperintensities in the development of depressive symptoms in elderly subjects.