Short/long heterozygotes at 5HTTLPR and white matter lesions in geriatric depression.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the relationship between 5HTTLPR genotype and volume of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain lesions.


METHODS
We studied 217 older depressed patients and 141 individuals in the comparison group using a standard brain MRI protocol to calculate lesion volumes. Genotype at 5HTTLPR was determined for each subject.


RESULTS
In age-adjusted models, the l/s genotype was associated with increased volume of total and white-matter lesions among depressed patients. This relationship lost significance in models controlling for reported hypertension.


CONCLUSIONS
The finding that 5HTTLPR heterozygotes have higher vascular lesion volumes may be related to development of hypertension.
Steffens
David C
DC
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. steff001@mc.duke.edu
Taylor
Warren D
WD
McQuoid
Douglas R
DR
Krishnan
K Ranga R
KR
D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins