Study Report
Reference
| Citation | Gerritsen, 2011 PubMed |
| Full Info | Gerritsen, L., Comijs, H.C., van der Graaf, Y., Knoops, A.J., Penninx, B.W. and Geerlings, M.I. (2011) Depression, Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis, and Hippocampal and Entorhinal Cortex Volumes-The SMART Medea Study. Biol Psychiatry.
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Study
| Hypothesis or Background |
Structural brain changes have often been found in major depressive disorder (MDD), and it is thought that hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity may explain this relation. We investigated the association of MDD and history of depression with hippocampal and entorhinal cortex volumes and whether HPA axis activity explained this association.
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| Sample Information | 636 participants with a history of atherosclerotic disease |
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| Method Detail | In 636 participants with a history of atherosclerotic disease (mean age 62 +/- 9 years, 81% male) from the second Manifestation of ARTerial disease-Memory depression and aging (SMART-Medea) study, a 12-month diagnosis of MDD and history of depression were assessed. Age of first depressive episode was classified into early-onset depression (< 50 years) and late-onset depression (>/= 50 years). HPA axis regulation was assessed by four morning saliva samples, two evening samples, and one awakening sample after .5 mg dexamethasone. Hippocampus and entorhinal cortex volume were manually outlined on three-dimensional T1-weighted magnetic resonance images. |
| Method Keywords | salivary analysis; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) |
| Result | General linear models adjusted for demographics, vascular risk, antidepressant use, and white matter lesions showed that ever having had MDD was associated with smaller hippocampal volumes but not with entorhinal cortex volumes. Remitted MDD was related to smaller entorhinal cortex volumes (p < .05). Participants with early-onset depression had smaller hippocampal volumes than those who were never depressed (p < .05), whereas participants with late-onset depression had smaller entorhinal cortex volumes (p < .05). HPA axis activity did not explain these differences. |
| Remark | We found differential associations of age of onset of depression on hippocampal and entorhinal cortex volumes, which could not be explained by alterations in HPA axis regulation.
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Relationships reported by
Gerritsen, 2011
| Component A Approved Name (Name in Paper) |
Component A Type |
Component B Approved Name (Name in Paper) |
Component B Type |
Statistical Result |
Relationship Description |
Result Category (Positive/Negative)) |
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MDD
|
syndrome |
Hippocampus (hippocampus) |
brain morphology and function |
P-value < .05 |
Participants with early-onset depression had smaller hippocampal volumes than those who were never depressed (p < .05) |
Positive
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MDD
|
syndrome |
Entorhinal cortex (entorhinal cortex) |
brain morphology and function |
P-value < .05 |
Remitted MDD was related to smaller entorhinal cortex volumes (p < .05). |
Positive
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