Elevated triglyceride levels are associated with cognitive impairments among patients with major depressive disorder.
Cognitive deficits have been identified as one of core clinical symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD). Accumulating evidence indicated that triglycerides (TG) might be associated with MDD and cognitive decline.



This study examined whether patients with MDD had poorer cognitive functions than healthy controls, and further investigate whether TG levels were involved in MDD, and its cognitive impairments in a Han Chinese population.



115 patients with MDD and 119 healthy controls were enrolled. Cognitive functions were assessed by the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), and serum TG levels were examined using enzymatic colorimetry.



TG levels were higher in patients with MDD than healthy controls after controlling for the variables. Cognitive test scores were lower in patients with MDD than healthy controls except for visuospatial/constructional index after controlling for the variables. TG levels were negatively correlated with visuospatial/constructional score, delayed memory score and RBANS total score of MDD. Further multivariate regression analysis showed that TG levels were negatively associated with visuospatial/constructional score, attention score, delayed memory score and RBANS total score of MDD.



Our findings supported that serum TG levels might be involved in MDD, and play an important role in cognitive impairments of MDD, especially in delayed memory. Moreover, patients with MDD experienced greater cognitive impairments than healthy controls except for visuospatial/constructional index.
First School of Clinical Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, PR China; Suzhou Psychiatric Hospital, Suzhou, Jiangsu, PR China; Institute of Mental Health, Suzhou Psychiatric Hospital, The Affiliated Guangji Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, PR China; Wenzhou Kangning Hospital, Kangning Hospital attached to Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, PR China.
Tian Nan
TN
Shao
Institute of Mental Health, Suzhou Psychiatric Hospital, The Affiliated Guangji Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, PR China.
Guang Zhong
GZ
Yin
Wenzhou Kangning Hospital, Kangning Hospital attached to Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, PR China.
Xiao Li
XL
Yin
Institute of Mental Health, Suzhou Psychiatric Hospital, The Affiliated Guangji Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, PR China.
Jing Qin
JQ
Wu
Institute of Mental Health, Suzhou Psychiatric Hospital, The Affiliated Guangji Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, PR China.
Xiang Dong
XD
Du
Institute of Mental Health, Suzhou Psychiatric Hospital, The Affiliated Guangji Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, PR China.
Hong Liang
HL
Zhu
Wenzhou Kangning Hospital, Kangning Hospital attached to Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, PR China.
Jia Hong
JH
Liu
Wenzhou Kangning Hospital, Kangning Hospital attached to Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, PR China.
Xiao Qiong
XQ
Wang
School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, PR China.
Dong Wu
DW
Xu
First School of Clinical Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, PR China; Suzhou Psychiatric Hospital, Suzhou, Jiangsu, PR China. Electronic address: 13606777777@qq.com.
Wen Jie
WJ
Tang
First School of Clinical Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, PR China; Suzhou Psychiatric Hospital, Suzhou, Jiangsu, PR China; Institute of Mental Health, Suzhou Psychiatric Hospital, The Affiliated Guangji Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, PR China; Wenzhou Kangning Hospital, Kangning Hospital attached to Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, PR China. Electronic address: huili004100@126.com.
Li
L
Hui
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012094:Repression, Psychology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
D014280:Triglycerides