TY - JOUR
T1 - Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and mood in perimenopausal depression
AU - Harder, Jessica A.
AU - Fichorova, Raina N.
AU - Srivastava, Akanksha
AU - Wiley, Aleta
AU - Burdick, Katherine E.
AU - Locascio, Joseph J.
AU - Joffe, Hadine
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021
PY - 2022/3/1
Y1 - 2022/3/1
N2 - Background: Previous work implicates high pro-inflammatory biomarkers in mood disturbance and low brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in major depression. However, in hormonally-sensitive premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), BDNF levels are higher when mood is worse. Perimenopausal depression has not been studied to date. We evaluated whether BDNF and inflammatory cytokines predict mood symptoms across the menstrual cycle in hormonally-sensitive perimenopausal depression symptoms. Methods: Data from 49 time points derived from mid-to-late follicular phase [M/L-FP] and peri‑menstrual assessments of 14 perimenopausal women ages 38–52 with ovulatory menstrual cycles 24–35 days long across 1–2 cycles for mood symptoms, BDNF levels, cytokines, gonadal steroids. Depression was assessed with Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); irritability with Kellner Symptom Questionnaire Anger-Hostility subscale (SQ); overall psychological distress with Profile of Mood States (POMS). Mixed models were run on dependent measures of MADRS (primary endpoint) and other mood outcomes (BDI, POMS, SQ) with independent variables of interest (each biomarker, cycle phase), controlling for cycle number and participant. Results: After FDR adjustment, BDNF levels showed consistent significant positive relationships to MADRS (β=0.00053; p = 0.0028), POMS (β=0.00153; p = 0.0394), SQ (β=0.00053; p = 0.0067), and BDI (β=0.00039; p = 0.0231). Cycle phase did not affect this relationship. No other biomarker consistently predicted affective symptom severity. Limitations: Small sample size and large number of comparisons. Conclusion: In women with perimenopausal depression symptoms, BDNF is elevated in association with more severe mood symptomatology, resembling the pattern in hormonally-sensitive PMDD and suggesting a hormonally-sensitive mood disorder biomarker profile distinct from that of major depression.
AB - Background: Previous work implicates high pro-inflammatory biomarkers in mood disturbance and low brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in major depression. However, in hormonally-sensitive premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), BDNF levels are higher when mood is worse. Perimenopausal depression has not been studied to date. We evaluated whether BDNF and inflammatory cytokines predict mood symptoms across the menstrual cycle in hormonally-sensitive perimenopausal depression symptoms. Methods: Data from 49 time points derived from mid-to-late follicular phase [M/L-FP] and peri‑menstrual assessments of 14 perimenopausal women ages 38–52 with ovulatory menstrual cycles 24–35 days long across 1–2 cycles for mood symptoms, BDNF levels, cytokines, gonadal steroids. Depression was assessed with Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); irritability with Kellner Symptom Questionnaire Anger-Hostility subscale (SQ); overall psychological distress with Profile of Mood States (POMS). Mixed models were run on dependent measures of MADRS (primary endpoint) and other mood outcomes (BDI, POMS, SQ) with independent variables of interest (each biomarker, cycle phase), controlling for cycle number and participant. Results: After FDR adjustment, BDNF levels showed consistent significant positive relationships to MADRS (β=0.00053; p = 0.0028), POMS (β=0.00153; p = 0.0394), SQ (β=0.00053; p = 0.0067), and BDI (β=0.00039; p = 0.0231). Cycle phase did not affect this relationship. No other biomarker consistently predicted affective symptom severity. Limitations: Small sample size and large number of comparisons. Conclusion: In women with perimenopausal depression symptoms, BDNF is elevated in association with more severe mood symptomatology, resembling the pattern in hormonally-sensitive PMDD and suggesting a hormonally-sensitive mood disorder biomarker profile distinct from that of major depression.
KW - Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)
KW - Depression
KW - Hormones
KW - Menstrual cycle
KW - Mood
KW - Perimenopause
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85122146473&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jad.2021.12.092
DO - 10.1016/j.jad.2021.12.092
M3 - Article
C2 - 34954335
AN - SCOPUS:85122146473
SN - 0165-0327
VL - 300
SP - 145
EP - 149
JO - Journal of Affective Disorders
JF - Journal of Affective Disorders
ER -