title: [The relationship between atherosclerosis, cognitive impairment, and depression in old age].
abstract: It has been suggested in the literature that atherosclerosis is a common causal pathway of cognitive impairment and late-onset depression, which may explain their co-occurrence in old age. In both the 'Leiden 85-plus Study' and the literature, strong evidence is found for a causal relationship between atherosclerosis and cognitive impairment, but there is less evidence for a causal relationship between atherosclerosis and late-onset depression. In the 'Leiden 85-plus Study', cognitive impairment was a risk factor for the development of late-onset depression, but depression in old age did not predict cognitive decline. This means that the prevention of atherosclerosis might prevent cognitive impairment and hence late-onset depression in old age.
authors.affiliation: Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, Leiden. d.j.vinkers@lumc.nl
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Vinkers
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: van der Mast
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Stek
authors.forename: R G J
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Westendorp
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gussekloo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors