Abstract
Background
Several studies have linked geriatric depression with cerebrovascular disease. The
apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) ε4 allele has been associated with a variety of late-life
neuropsychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and
depression.
Methods
The sample consisted of 145 elderly depressive individuals and 100 nondepressed elderly
control subjects. After a standardized clinical assessment, all subjects underwent
a magnetic resonance imaging brain scan. Volumes of subcortical white and gray matter
lesions were determined using a semi-automated method. Apolipoprotein E genotype was
determined on blood sample using a standard protocol. A series of linear regression
models were developed to assess the relationships between APOE genotype and white
and gray matter lesion volumes.
Results
Older age, lower Mini-Mental State Examination score, and having any APOE ε4 allele
were each correlated with gray-matter lesion volume in depressed patients. Apolipoprotein
E genotype was not associated with any lesion volume among control subjects. In a
subsequent linear regression model, gray matter lesion volume was associated with
older age, having at least one APOE ε4 allele, and white matter lesion volume among
depressed patients.
Conclusions
These results are consistent with previous reports linking cerebrovascular disease
and APOE genotype. Further studies are needed to replicate this finding in elderly
depressive individuals and to explain the relationship between the APOE locus and
development of central nervous system vascular pathology.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
September 27,
2002
Received in revised form:
July 31,
2002
Received:
March 22,
2002
Identification
Copyright
© 2003 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
