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Depressive symptoms, vascular disease, and mild cognitive impairment: findings from the Cardiovascular Health Study.

TitleDepressive symptoms, vascular disease, and mild cognitive impairment: findings from the Cardiovascular Health Study.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2006
AuthorsBarnes, DE, Alexopoulos, GS, Lopez, OL, Williamson, JD, Yaffe, K
JournalArch Gen Psychiatry
Volume63
Issue3
Pagination273-9
Date Published2006 Mar
ISSN0003-990X
KeywordsAged, Cerebrovascular Disorders, Cognition Disorders, Comorbidity, Dementia, Dementia, Vascular, Depressive Disorder, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Geriatric Assessment, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Prospective Studies, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Risk Factors, Sampling Studies, Vascular Diseases
Abstract<p><b>CONTEXT: </b>Depressive symptoms are common in patients with dementia and may be associated with increased risk of developing dementia. It has been hypothesized that depressive symptoms and dementia may be attributable to underlying vascular disease in some older persons.</p><p><b>OBJECTIVES: </b>To test the hypotheses (1) that depressive symptoms are associated with increased risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a preclinical state that often precedes dementia, and (2) that the association between depressive symptoms and MCI is attributable to underlying vascular disease.</p><p><b>DESIGN: </b>Prospective, population-based, longitudinal study.</p><p><b>SETTING: </b>Random sample of adults 65 years or older recruited from 4 US communities.</p><p><b>PARTICIPANTS: </b>Subjects were 2220 participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study Cognition Study with high cognitive function at baseline. Depressive symptoms were measured at baseline using the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and were classified as none (0-2 points), low (3-7 points), and moderate or high (>/=8 points). Vascular disease measures at baseline included confirmed history of stroke, transient ischemic attack, diabetes mellitus, or hypertension; carotid artery stenosis; ankle-arm blood pressure index; and small or large infarcts or white matter disease on cerebral magnetic resonance imaging. Mild cognitive impairment was diagnosed after 6 years of follow-up based on the consensus of a team of dementia experts using standard clinical criteria.</p><p><b>MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: </b>Diagnosis of MCI.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>Depressive symptoms at baseline were associated with increased risk of MCI (10.0%, 13.3%, and 19.7% for those with no, low, and moderate or high depressive symptoms, respectively). This association was diminished only slightly by adjustment for vascular disease measures and demographics. Vascular disease measures also were associated with increased risk of MCI, and these associations were not diminished by adjustment for depressive symptoms or demographics.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION: </b>Depressive symptoms were associated with increased risk of MCI, and this association was independent of underlying vascular disease.</p>
DOI10.1001/archpsyc.63.3.273
Alternate JournalArch Gen Psychiatry
PubMed ID16520432
Grant ListN01 HC15103 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01 HC35129 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01 HC85079 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01 HC85086 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG15928-02 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
T32 AG00212 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States