Neuropathological Changes in Dementia in Patients with Co-morbid Depression 

 
   Lead Investigator:    Michael Rapp
   Institution      :    Mt Sinai
   E-Mail           :    michael.rapp@mssm.edu
   Proposal ID      :    375


   Publications:


1  Rapp MA, Haroutunina V, Sano M
   Increased Plaques and Tangles in Alzheimer's Disease Patients with Co-morbid Depression
   2006   Abstract  Society for Biological Psychiatry Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada , 

   ACCEPTED



2  Rapp MA, Schnaider-Beeri M, Purohit DP, Perl DP, Haroutunian V, Sano M
   Increased neurofibrillary tangles in patients with Alzheimer disease with comorbid depression
   Journal Article  Am J Geriatr Psychiatry,16:168-174,2008,

   PUBLISHED





   Proposal Description:
   To our knowledge, there have been no systematic studies of neuropathological changes and cognitive decline over time in Alzheimer???s disease and vascular dementia as a function of history of major depression. Such research would have great clinical significance in that the identification of potential mechanisms that link geriatric depression as a treatable risk factor to neuropathological   changes in Alzheimer???s disease and vascular dementia and to the progression of cognitive decline in the dementias may lead to the development of differential intervention and prevention strategies, be they pharmacological or non-pharmacological in nature. Our objective is to describe the co-morbidity of dementia and depression using the NACC sample baseline assessment. Our primary   hypotheses are that co-morbid depression accelerates the rate of cognitive decline and increases the extent of neuropathological lesions in vascular dementia and Alzheimer???s disease. Using hierarchical multi-level mixed modeling cognitive change will be analyzed as a function of dementia (vascular versus Alzheimer???s disease versus none), depression co-morbidity, and cardiovascular-comorbidity. The extent of neuropathological lesions will be analyzed as a function of group membership in a 2 (vascular dementia versus Alzheimer???s disease) by 2 (absence versus presence of depression co-morbidity) analysis of covariance. In our aging society, it is of paramount importance to focus on both the prevention and treatment of dementia. We have known for some time that major depression is a treatable risk factor for dementia. This work will help us understand some of the underlying mechanisms. We hope such research will help to encourage patients to seek specialist care for major depression early on, in order to alleviate the tremendous burden both mood disorders and dementia place on our rapidly growing aging population.