title: A positive correlation between serum amyloid β levels and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling elderly individuals in Japan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Amyloid beta (Aβ) levels have been associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). As depression is common before the onset of AD, serum Aβ levels could be associated with depressive symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate whether serum Aβ levels are associated with depressive symptoms and/or cognitive function in community-dwelling elderly individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the association between serum Aβ levels and depression among 419 Japanese community-dwelling elderly individuals aged 60 years and over. Subjects were divided into two subgroups: younger elderly between 60 and 69 years old and older elderly over 69 years old. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to assess cognitive function, and symptoms of depression were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). The ability to perform activities of daily living was evaluated using the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence. Serum Aβ levels were measured with a human amyloid beta enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After controlling for potential confounding variables, a multiple linear regression analysis showed that increased levels of serum Aβ40 and Aβ42 were associated with higher CES-D scores in the older elderly subgroup. Under the same condition, multiple regression showed that serum Aβ levels were not associated with MMSE scores among the total subjects, younger elderly, or older elderly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum Aβ levels were associated with depressive symptoms in community-dwelling elderly individuals. The present study indicates the possibility that serum Aβ may be involved in the development of late-onset depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsuruga
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sugawara
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yasui-Furukori
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Ippei
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsuchimine
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaneda
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeyuki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakaji
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamura
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Japanese; dementia; depression