Serum insulin-like growth factor 1 and late-life depression: a population-based study

N C van Varsseveld; C C van Bunderen; E Sohl; H C Comijs; B W J H Penninx; P Lips; M L Drent

doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.01.014

Serum insulin-like growth factor 1 and late-life depression: a population-based study

Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2015 Apr:54:31-40. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.01.014. Epub 2015 Jan 29.

Authors

N C van Varsseveld¹, C C van Bunderen², E Sohl³, H C Comijs⁴, B W J H Penninx⁴, P Lips², M L Drent²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrine Section, VU University Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: nc.vanvarsseveld@vumc.nl.
² Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrine Section, VU University Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
³ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, A.J. Ernststraat 1187, 1081 HL Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

PMID: 25678185
DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.01.014

Abstract

Objective: Serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) concentration decreases, while the prevalence of depressive symptoms increases with advancing age. Although basic research indicates a link between low IGF-1 concentration and depression, this has scarcely been investigated in humans. This study investigates whether lower IGF-1 concentrations are associated with prevalent and incident late-life depression over a 3-year period.

Methods: The study included 1188 participants, aged ≥ 65 years, from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA), an ongoing, population-based cohort study. Depression was assessed at baseline and after three years using the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS), and categorized into minor depression and major depression (MDD). Serum IGF-1 concentration was determined at baseline. Associations were adjusted for relevant confounders.

Results: Serum IGF-1 concentrations were within the normal range (mean 13.9 nmol/l, standard deviation 5.3 nmol/l). At baseline, in men, as compared to high concentrations, mid concentrations decreased the probability of prevalent minor depression (odds ratio [OR] = 0.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.15-0.82). In women, as compared to high concentrations, low concentrations tended to increase the probability of prevalent MDD (OR = 2.66, 95% CI = 0.89-7.89). At three-year follow-up, in men, no significant prospective associations were detected. In women, as compared to high concentrations, mid concentrations decreased the probability of incident minor depression (OR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.19-0.95).

Conclusions: Several associations, which differed across the genders, were observed between IGF-1 and depression. Cross-sectional findings were not supported by longitudinal findings, which suggest that IGF-1 may not play an important predictive role in the development of depression in older persons over time. However, a more acute role of IGF-1 in current depression, as indicated by the cross-sectional results, may be possible. Further studies are needed to elucidate the complex relation between IGF-1 and late-life depression.

Keywords: Depression; Depressive symptoms; Elderly; Insulin-like growth factor 1.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cohort Studies
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression / blood*
Depression / epidemiology
Female
Humans
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / metabolism*
Major Depressive Disorder / blood
Major Depressive Disorder / epidemiology
Male
Netherlands / epidemiology
Prospective Studies

Substances

Insulin-Like Growth Factor I