Sex-specific associations between Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) and cognitive domains in late-life depression

P J W Naudé; J A den Boer; H C Comijs; F J Bosker; M Zuidersma; N A Groenewold; P P De Deyn; P G M Luiten; U L M Eisel; R C Oude Voshaar

doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.06.016

Sex-specific associations between Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) and cognitive domains in late-life depression

Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2014 Oct:48:169-77. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.06.016. Epub 2014 Jun 27.

Authors

P J W Naudé¹, J A den Boer², H C Comijs³, F J Bosker⁴, M Zuidersma⁴, N A Groenewold⁴, P P De Deyn⁵, P G M Luiten⁶, U L M Eisel⁶, R C Oude Voshaar⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Molecular Neurobiology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; University Center of Psychiatry & Interdisciplinary Center of Psychopathology of Emotion Regulation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology and Alzheimer Research Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: p.j.w.naude@umcg.nl.
² Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
³ Department of Psychiatry, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
⁴ University Center of Psychiatry & Interdisciplinary Center of Psychopathology of Emotion Regulation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
⁵ Department of Neurology and Alzheimer Research Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology and Memory Clinic, ZNA and Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Behavior, Reference Center for Biological Markers of Dementia and Biobank Antwerp, Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
⁶ Department of Molecular Neurobiology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; University Center of Psychiatry & Interdisciplinary Center of Psychopathology of Emotion Regulation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.

PMID: 25019974
DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.06.016

Abstract

Background: Although it is well established that late-life depression is associated with both systemic low-graded inflammation and cognitive impairment, the relation between inflammation and cognition in depressed older persons is still equivocal. The objective of this study is to examine the association between plasma Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) concentrations and cognitive functioning in late-life depression, including the potentially moderating role of sex.

Methods: A total of 369 depressed older persons (≥60 years) from The Netherlands study of Depression in Older persons (NESDO) were included. Four cognitive domains, i.e. verbal memory, processing speed, interference control and attention were assessed with three cognitive tests (Stroop test, Wais Digit span test, and Rey's verbal learning test). Multiple linear regression analyses were applied with the four cognitive domains as dependent variables adjusted for confounders.

Results: The association between NGAL levels and specific cognitive domains were sex-specific. In women, higher NGAL levels were associated with impaired verbal memory and lower processing speed. In men, higher NGAL levels were associated with worse interference control. Higher NGAL levels were not associated with attention. No sex-specific associations of either high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) or interleukin-6 (IL-6) with cognitive functioning were found.

Conclusion: This study shows sex-specific association of NGAL with cognitive functioning in late-life depression.

Keywords: Cognitive impairment; Executive functioning; IL-6; Inflammation; Lipocalin 2; NESDO; Verbal memory; hsCRP.

Publication types

Clinical Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Acute-Phase Proteins
Age of Onset
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Attention
C-Reactive Protein / metabolism
Cognition / physiology*
Depressive Disorder / blood*
Depressive Disorder / epidemiology
Depressive Disorder / physiopathology
Depressive Disorder / psychology*
Female
Humans
Inflammation / blood
Inflammation / physiopathology
Interleukin-6 / blood
Lipocalin-2
Lipocalins / blood*
Male
Memory
Middle Aged
Proto-Oncogene Proteins / blood*
Sex Factors
Verbal Learning

Substances

Acute-Phase Proteins
IL6 protein, human
Interleukin-6
LCN2 protein, human
Lipocalin-2
Lipocalins
Proto-Oncogene Proteins
C-Reactive Protein