Exploring the relationship between physical health,depressive symptoms,and depression diagnoses in Hispanic dementia caregivers

Objectives: The present study examined the relationship between self-reported physical health, depressive symptoms, and the occurrence of depression diagnosis in Hispanic female dementia caregivers. Participants: Participants were 89 Hispanic female dementia caregivers. Design: This study used a cross-sectional design. Baseline depression and physical health data were collected from participants enrolled in the ‘Reducing Stress in Hispanic Anglo Dementia Caregivers’ study sponsored by the National Institute on Aging. Measurements: Physical health was assessed using the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36 (SF-36), a one-item self-report health rating, body mass index, and the presence or history of self-reported physical illness. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies–Depression Scale (CES-D). The occurrence of depression diagnosis was assessed using the Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID). Analysis: Multiple linear and logistic regression analysis was used to examine the extent to which indices of physical health and depressive symptoms accounted for variance in participants’ depressive symptoms and depressive diagnoses. Results. Self-reported indices of health (e.g., SF-36) accounted for a significant portion of variance in both CES-D scores and SCID diagnoses. Caregivers who reported worsened health tended to report increased symptoms of depression on the CES-D and increased likelihood of an SCID diagnosis of a depressive disorder. Conclusion. Self-reported health indices are helpful in identifying Hispanic dementia caregivers at risk for clinical levels of depression.     

The effects of physical exercise on depressive symptoms among the aged: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of physical exercise on depression or depressive symptoms among the aged. METHOD: A literature search covering various medical databases was conducted to identify randomised controlled trials (RCT's) about the effects of exercise treatments on depression or depressive symptoms among the aged. The studies were classified according to the baseline depression status of participants and assessed in relation to allocation concealment, blinding at outcome assessment, follow-up and whether intention to treat analysis was used. Studies meeting the inclusion criteria were accepted. RESULTS: Exercise was effective in treating depression among those suffering from minor or major depression and in reducing depressive symptoms among those with a high amount of depressive symptoms at baseline. However, both the allocation concealment and the blinding method were adequately described in only four studies. Furthermore, intention-to-treat analysis was conducted in half of the studies and some follow-up information after the intervention has been published for five studies. CONCLUSIONS: Physical exercise may be efficient in reducing clinical depression and depressive symptoms in the short-term among the aged suffering from depression or a high amount of depressive symptoms. More well controlled studies are needed.     

Brief report: Relationships between physical activity and depressive symptoms in adolescent girls

This study examined the relationships between changes in physical activity and depressive symptoms in adolescent girls. Participants were 277 urban adolescent girls. Physical activity was measured using the 3-Day Physical Activity Recall and depressive symptoms were assessed using questionnaire. Data were collected on three occasions over a 3-year period. The results of latent growth modelling indicated that initial level and change in physical activity was inversely associated with initial status and change in depressive symptoms The associations were independent of body mass index. Our results encourage the design of interventions that reduce depressive symptoms and increase physical activity of early adolescent girls.     

Mapping the relationship between subgenual cingulate cortex functional connectivity and depressive symptoms across adolescence

Changes in the functional connectivity of the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (SGC) have been linked with depressive symptoms. The aim of this study was to map this relationship across mid to late adolescence. Employing a longitudinal functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) design, associations between patterns of resting-state SGC functional connectivity and symptoms of depression were examined at two time points in an initial sample of 72 adolescents. Using a region-of-interest approach, these associations were evaluated cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Cross-sectionally, weaker SGC functional connectivity with the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), angular gyrus and dorsal prefrontal cortex at baseline, and weaker SGC connectivity with the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC) and ventromedial prefrontal cortex at follow-up, were associated with higher depressive symptoms. Longitudinally, a decrease in SGC functional connectivity with DMPFC, PCC, angular gyrus and middle temporal gyrus was associated with higher depressive symptoms at follow-up. The observation of weaker SGC connectivity predicting increased symptoms contrasts with the majority of resting-state fMRI studies in clinically depressed populations. Taken together with these past studies, our findings suggest depression-related changes in SGC functional connectivity may differ across developmental and illness stages.     

Hippocampal sub‐regional shape and physical activity in older adults

Hippocampal atrophy is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease pathology, and a target biomarker region for testing intervention efficacy. Over the last few decades, a growing body of evidence from animal and human models suggests that physical activity (PA) is associated with structural benefits to the hippocampus in older adults. Very few human studies, however have explored hippocampal sub‐regional specificity of PA; this is significant considering that sub‐regions of the hippocampus are associated with distinct cognitive tasks and are differentially affected by disease pathology. This study used objective and self‐reported measures of daily walking activity and exercise, and surface‐based regional shape analysis using high‐field hippocampal sub‐regional partitions to explore sub‐region specific hippocampal associations in a sample of nondemented, community‐dwelling older adults at elevated sociodemographic risk for cognitive decline. Vertex‐wise surface areas, which may be more sensitive than global volume measures, were calculated using shape diffeomorphometry, and PA was assessed using step activity monitors and PA questionnaires. We found that daily walking activity in a participant's environment was associated in cross‐section mainly with larger surface areas of the subiculum in women. Associations remained significant when controlling for self‐reported exercise. Prior studies have found that PA related to exercise and aerobic fitness may be most closely associated with the anterior hippocampus, particularly the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. These novel findings are the first, to our knowledge, in human models to suggest that PA related to navigation that may not reach the level of moderate‐intensity exercise may be associated with specific sub‐regions of the hippocampus. These findings underscore the importance of better understanding the independent and related biological mechanisms and pathways by which increasing exercise as well as non‐exercise, lifestyle PA may influence structural brain health. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Association between physical activity levels and depressive symptoms in patients with minor ischemic stroke

ObjectivePost-stroke depression is associated with stroke recurrence and it is necessary to identify its influencing factors. The study aims to determine whether physical activity during hospitalization, as measured by accelerometer, was associated with depression after discharge in patients with minor ischemic stroke.Materials and methodsThis prospective observational study assessed 76 patients with minor ischemic stroke (aged 71.2 years) admitted to an acute care hospital. Depressive symptoms 3 months after discharge from the hospital was assessed using a questionnaire sent by mail. Baseline was set during hospitalization, and accelerometers were used to measure sedentary behavior, light and moderate-to-vigorous physical activities during hospitalization.ResultsThree months after hospital discharge, 14 patients (18.4%) were placed in the depressive symptom group, with significantly more sedentary behavior (p = 0.021), less light physical activity (p = 0.016) and more depressive symptoms during hospitalization (p = 0.005) than in the non-depressive symptom group. Logistic regression analysis showed that sedentary behavior (odds ratio = 1.130, 95% confidence interval = 1.013?1.281, p = 0.028) and light-intensity physical activity (odds ratio = 0.853, 95% confidence interval = 0.746?0.976, p = 0.021) were independent factors for depressive symptoms at three months after discharge. Moderate to vigorous physical activity was not an independent factor.ConclusionsSedentary behavior and light-intensity physical activity during hospitalization were associated with depressive symptoms in patients with minor ischemic stroke after discharge. Reducing sedentary behavior and increasing light-intensity physical activity as part of inpatient rehabilitation may help prevent post-stroke depression.     

Atypical depressive symptoms and clusters in unipolar and bipolar depression

In order to examine differences in the atypical symptoms of depression between unipolar and bipolar patients, we studied 109 depressed patients (79 unipolar and 30 bipolar subjects) diagnosed with DSM-IV criteria. Patients were assessed using the Atypical Depression Diagnostic Scale (ADDS), a semi-structured interview that rates mood reactivity and other atypical depressive symptoms. Although atypical depression was common in this sample (28% of cases with definite atypical depression), no differences were found between the unipolar and bipolar patients in either the atypical symptom profile or the prevalence of an atypical depression diagnosis. The interrelationships between the atypical symptoms were also examined using a hierarchical cluster analysis. A five-cluster solution maximized differences between groups, with results suggesting that atypical depression may be a heterogeneous diagnosis.     

The association between depressive symptoms and cognitive decline in community-dwelling elderly persons

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether depressive symptoms predict specific types of cognitive decline in order to elucidate the association between late life depression and cognitive decline. BACKGROUND: Mechanisms underlying the association between late life depression and cognitive decline are still unclear. METHOD: Six hundred and forty-one elderly persons of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) aged 70-85 were examined by means of two measurement occasions over a period of 3 years. Depressive symptoms were assessed by means of the CES-D. Various cognitive functions were examined using neuropsychological tests. RESULTS: Depressive symptoms were associated with decline in speed of information processing over a 3-year period, whereas there was no association between depression and increasing memory impairment or global mental deterioration. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that depressive symptoms are associated with subcortical pathology, most probable white matter lesions.     

Electrodermal activity in depressive patients in remission and in matched healthy subjects

Electrodermal activity (EDA) was investigated in 28 patients when depressive and when in remission and in 28 matched and 59 unmatched healthy subjects. The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 37 months (median two years). All the EDA variables were significantly elevated at follow-up and did not differ significantly from the EDA of the matched healthy subjects. However, in patients with extremely low electrodermal responsivity (EDR) when depressed, including suicide attempters, EDA was significantly elevated, but did not reach the levels of the healthy subjects, except for one EDA variable. Further, patients with major depressive episode and a history of recurrent depression did not reach the EDR levels found in the healthy subjects. The results are interpreted as an indication that normalization of EDA does not parallel clinical recovery and may be extended for several months (perhaps years for the EDR), possibly indicating vulnerability to relapse. The data may also be interpreted that persons who are normally electrodermally hyporesponsive, may, when depressive, develop a state of extreme hyporesponsivity that seems to be linked to the ability to carry out a suicide attempt.