Introduction: The biological mechanisms linking mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and major depressive disorder are not well understood. We investigated whether molecular senescence changes in older adults are associated with a history of major depressive disorder (MDD) or MCI.
Methods: We included 371 participants: 167 with MCI; 62 cognitively normal with a history of MDD; 97 with MDD+MCI; and 45 cognitively unimpaired (CU) without a history of MDD. The candidate Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP) biomarkers were measured in the plasma using a customized LUMINEX assay.
Results: The MDD+MCI group had a higher SASP index than the other groups (P < .001). A higher SASP index was significantly associated with worse global cognitive performance, executive dysfunction, slower processing speed, and episodic memory deficits.
Discussion: Our study suggests that increased molecular changes are associated with cognitive impairment in older adults with MDD and indicate that accelerated biological aging is an underlying feature of MDD.
Keywords: SASP; aging; biomarkers; cognitive impairment; late‐life depression; major depressive disorder.
© 2020 The Authors. Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Alzheimer's Association.