title: Serum insulin-like growth factor 1 and late-life depression: a population-based study.
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.
authors: 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.
authors: N C
authors: NC
authors: van Varsseveld
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrine Section, VU University Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: C C
authors: CC
authors: van Bunderen
authors: 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.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Sohl
authors: Department of Psychiatry, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, A.J. Ernststraat 1187, 1081 HL Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: H C
authors: HC
authors: Comijs
authors: Department of Psychiatry, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, A.J. Ernststraat 1187, 1081 HL Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: B W J H
authors: BW
authors: Penninx
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrine Section, VU University Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Lips
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrine Section, VU University Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: M L
authors: ML
authors: Drent
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
keywords: Depression; Depressive symptoms; Elderly; Insulin-like growth factor 1