Maria Blöchl1,2, H Lina Schaare3,4, Ute Kunzmann5, Steffen Nestler1. 1. Department of Psychology, University of Münster, Germany. 2. Department for Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany. 3. Otto Hahn Group Cognitive Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany. 4. Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7: Brain and Behaviour), Research Centre Jülich, Germany. 5. Department of Psychology, Leipzig University, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Cumulative burden of vascular risk factors (VRFs) has been linked to an increased risk of depressed mood. However, the role of age in this association is still unclear. Here, we investigated whether VRF burden is associated with levels and changes in depressed mood and whether these associations become stronger or weaker from mid- to later life. METHOD: We used longitudinal data from 5,689 participants (52-89 years) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. A composite score incorporated the presence of 5 VRFs: hypertension, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and hypercholesterolemia. Second-order latent growth models were used to test whether levels and changes of depressed mood differed as a function of baseline VRF burden, and whether these associations were moderated by age. RESULTS: Baseline VRF burden showed a small association with higher levels of depressed mood (estimate = 0.081; 95% CI: 0.024, 0.138, p = .005). This association varied with age, such that it was stronger in midlife compared to later life (estimate = -0.007; 95% CI: -0.013, -0.002, p = .017). There was no evidence that VRF burden was associated with changes in depressed mood. DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that VRF burden in midlife, but less so in later life, predicts individual differences in depressed mood. These findings are consistent with reports on the importance of midlife VRFs and support the idea that promotion of vascular health in this age group or earlier in life may be critical to maintain mental health across adulthood.
OBJECTIVES: Cumulative burden of vascular risk factors (VRFs) has been linked to an increased risk of depressed mood. However, the role of age in this association is still unclear. Here, we investigated whether VRF burden is associated with levels and changes in depressed mood and whether these associations become stronger or weaker from mid- to later life. METHOD: We used longitudinal data from 5,689 participants (52-89 years) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. A composite score incorporated the presence of 5 VRFs: hypertension, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and hypercholesterolemia. Second-order latent growth models were used to test whether levels and changes of depressed mood differed as a function of baseline VRF burden, and whether these associations were moderated by age. RESULTS: Baseline VRF burden showed a small association with higher levels of depressed mood (estimate = 0.081; 95% CI: 0.024, 0.138, p = .005). This association varied with age, such that it was stronger in midlife compared to later life (estimate = -0.007; 95% CI: -0.013, -0.002, p = .017). There was no evidence that VRF burden was associated with changes in depressed mood. DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that VRF burden in midlife, but less so in later life, predicts individual differences in depressed mood. These findings are consistent with reports on the importance of midlife VRFs and support the idea that promotion of vascular health in this age group or earlier in life may be critical to maintain mental health across adulthood.
Authors: Mika Kivimäki; Martin J Shipley; Charlotte L Allan; Claire E Sexton; Markus Jokela; Marianna Virtanen; Henning Tiemeier; Klaus P Ebmeier; Archana Singh-Manoux Journal: Biol Psychiatry Date: 2012-03-17 Impact factor: 13.382
Authors: Marianna Virtanen; Marko Elovainio; Kim Josefsson; G David Batty; Archana Singh-Manoux; Mika Kivimäki Journal: Heart Date: 2016-11-18 Impact factor: 5.994