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ABSTRACT: Importance
Whether neurodegeneration contributes to the early pathobiology of late-life depression remains incompletely understood.Objective
To investigate whether lower retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, a marker of neurodegeneration, is associated with the incidence of clinically relevant depressive symptoms and depressive symptoms over time.Design, setting, and participants
This is a population-based cohort study from the Netherlands (The Maastricht Study) with baseline examination between 2010 and 2020 and median (IQR) follow-up of 5.0 (3.0-6.0) years. Participants were recruited from the general population. Individuals with type 2 diabetes were oversampled by design. Data analysis was performed from September 2020 to January 2021.Exposures
RNFL, an index of neurodegeneration, assessed with optical coherence tomography.Main outcomes and measures
Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 (continuous score, 0-27) at baseline and over time via annual assessments. The presence of clinically relevant depressive symptoms was defined as a PHQ-9 score of 10 or higher.Results
We used data from 4934 participants with depressive symptoms over time (mean [SD] age, 59.7 [8.4] years; 2159 women [50.8%]; 870 had type 2 diabetes [20.5%]). Lower RNFL thickness was associated with higher incidence of clinically relevant depressive symptoms (per 1 SD, hazard ratio 1.11; 95% CI, 1.01-1.23) and more depressive symptoms over time (per 1 SD, rate ratio, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.06), after adjustment for demographic, cardiovascular, and lifestyle factors.Conclusions and relevance
The findings of this study suggest that lower RNFL thickness is associated with higher incidence of clinically relevant depressive symptoms and more depressive symptoms over time. Hence, neurodegeneration may be associated with the early pathobiology of late-life depression.
SUBMITTER: van der Heide FCT
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8596200 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
van der Heide Frank C T FCT Steens Indra L M ILM Geraets Anouk F J AFJ Foreman Yuri D YD Henry Ronald M A RMA Kroon Abraham A AA van der Kallen Carla J H CJH van Sloten Thomas T TT Dagnelie Pieter C PC van Dongen Martien C J M MCJM Eussen Simone J P M SJPM Berendschot Tos T J M TTJM Schouten Jan S A G JSAG Webers Carroll A B CAB van Greevenbroek Marleen M J MMJ Wesselius Anke A Koster Annemarie A Schaper Nicolaas C NC Schram Miranda T MT Köhler Seb S Stehouwer Coen D A CDA
JAMA network open 20211101 11
<h4>Importance</h4>Whether neurodegeneration contributes to the early pathobiology of late-life depression remains incompletely understood.<h4>Objective</h4>To investigate whether lower retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, a marker of neurodegeneration, is associated with the incidence of clinically relevant depressive symptoms and depressive symptoms over time.<h4>Design, setting, and participants</h4>This is a population-based cohort study from the Netherlands (The Maastricht Study) wit ...[more]