title: Metabolism of amyloid-β protein may be affected in depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that a history of depression increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, particularly among individuals with early-onset depression. On the other hand, recent studies have suggested that a higher amyloid-β protein (Aβ)40 to Aβ42 ratio may be associated with the future onset of Alzheimer's disease. Our objective was to assess whether the pathophysiology of early-onset depression may involve or affect Aβ metabolism.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this extension of a case-control pilot study, 193 inpatients with DSM-IV major depressive disorder (MDD) (mean age = 55.9 years) from the Juntendo Koshigaya Hospital, Saitama, Japan, and 413 healthy controls from the community (mean age = 56.6 years) were recruited between May 2004 and April 2009. Serum Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels, Aβ40/Aβ42 ratio, and other clinical and biological factors were compared between controls and patients in 3 age groups: young (< 40 years), middle-aged (≥ 40 to < 65 years), and elderly (≥ 65 years). Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. All patients were receiving antidepressant medication at the time of the study, and doses of current antidepressants were converted to an equivalent imipramine dose.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum Aβ40/Aβ42 ratio was significantly higher in MDD patients than controls in all age groups (young: P = .003; middle-aged: P < .001; elderly: P = .006). These differences were also observed in noncarriers of the apolipoprotein E ε4 allele.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that Aβ metabolism may be affected in depression; these findings also possibly answer the question of why even early-onset depression is a risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo. hbaba@juntendo.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baba
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maeshima
authors.forename: Emi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Satomura
authors.forename: Yohei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kita
authors.forename: Toshihito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Heii
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000235:genetics; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C078592:amyloid beta-protein (1-40); C075222:amyloid beta-protein (1-42)