Depression, Vascular Burden, and Dementia Prevalence in Late Middle-Aged and Older Black Adults

Shellie-Anne Levy, Maria B Misiura, Jeremy G Grant, Tamare V Adrien, Zinat Taiwo, Rebecca Armstrong, Vonetta M Dotson and Vanessa Taler

The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 2024, vol. 79, issue 4, 327-406

Abstract: ObjectivesLate-life depression and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) have been linked to increased dementia risk. However, there is a dearth of literature examining these relationships in Black adults. We investigated whether depression or WMH volume are associated with a higher likelihood of dementia diagnosis in a sample of late middle-aged to older Black adults, and whether dementia prevalence is highest in individuals with both depression and higher WMH volume.MethodsSecondary data analysis involved 443 Black participants aged 55+ with brain imaging within 1 year of baseline visit in the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set. Chi-square analyses and logistic regression models controlling for demographic variables examined whether active depression in the past 2 years, WMH volume, or their combination were associated with higher odds of all-cause dementia.ResultsDepression and higher WMH volume were associated with a higher prevalence of dementia. These associations remained after controlling for demographic factors, as well as vascular disease burden. Dementia risk was highest in the depression/high WMH volume group compared to the depression-only group, high WMH volume-only group, and the no depression/low WMH volume group. Post hoc analyses comparing the Black sample to a demographically matched non-Hispanic White sample showed associations of depression and the combination of depression and higher WMH burden with dementia were greater in Black compared to non-Hispanic White individuals.DiscussionResults suggest late-life depression and WMH have independent and joint relationships with dementia and that Black individuals may be particularly at risk due to these factors.

Keywords: African Americans; Cerebrovascular disease; Cognitive impairment; Depressive symptoms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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