Vascular risk and low serum B12 predict white matter lesions in patients with major depression

Hickie, Ian; Naismith, Sharon; Ward, Philip B.; Scott, Elizabeth; Mitchell, Philip; Wilhelm, Kay; Parker, Gordon

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2004.11.003

« Previous Next »Journal of Affective Disorders
Volume 85, Issue 3 , Pages 327-332, April 2005

Vascular risk and low serum B12 predict white matter lesions in patients with major depression

Ian Hickie
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, P.O. Box M160, Missenden Road NSW 2050, Australia
- Beyondblue: The National Depression Initiative, VIC Australia
- Corresponding author. Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, P.O. Box M160, Missenden Road NSW 2050, Australia. Tel.: +61 2 9351 0799; fax: +61 2 9351 0652.
Sharon Naismith
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, P.O. Box M160, Missenden Road NSW 2050, Australia
- Department of Psychogeriatrics, Westmead Hospital, NSW, Australia
Philip B. Ward
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia
Elizabeth Scott
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, P.O. Box M160, Missenden Road NSW 2050, Australia
Philip Mitchell
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia
- Mood Disorders Unit and Black Dog Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, NSW, Australia
Kay Wilhelm
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia
- Mood Disorders Unit and Black Dog Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, NSW, Australia
Gordon Parker
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia
- Mood Disorders Unit and Black Dog Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, NSW, Australia

Received 28 April 2004; received in revised form 15 November 2004; accepted 15 November 2004.

Abstract

Background

While patients with depression have been shown to have a greater incidence of vascular risk factors and structural brain changes, any association with dietary co-factors is unclear.

Methods

Forty-seven patients with major depression (mean age=52.8 years, SD=12.6) and 21 healthy volunteers (mean age=54.7 years, SD=9.1) underwent high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging scanning. T2-weighted films were scored for deep white matter (DWM), periventricular (PV), and subcortical (SC) hyperintensities.

Results

There was no difference in lesion severity between patients and control subjects. After controlling for age, vitamin B12 levels were predictive of DWM lesions in patients. DWM and SC lesions were associated with histories of hypertension and diabetes.

Limitations

A relatively small sample of patients were recruited from specialist services and the findings may not represent those observed in larger or community-based cohorts.