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. 2022 Apr;30(4):514-518.
doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2021.09.003. Epub 2021 Sep 16.

Impact of Inflammation on Cognitive Functioning After Electroconvulsive Therapy in Older Patients with Depression with and Without White Matter Hyperintensities

Angela Carlier  1 , Annemiek Dols  2 , Mardien Oudega  2 , Pascal Sienaert  3 , Filip Bouckaert  4 , Max L Stek  2 , Piet Eikelenboom  5 , Eric van Exel  2 , Didi Rhebergen  6
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Free article

Impact of Inflammation on Cognitive Functioning After Electroconvulsive Therapy in Older Patients with Depression with and Without White Matter Hyperintensities

Angela Carlier et al. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2022 Apr.
Free article

Abstract

Objective: Should we treat older, patients with depression with white matter hyperintensities (WMH) with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)? WMH, inflammation, depression and cognitive functioning are suggested to be intertwined. Hence, this study investigates whether the association between inflammation and cognition is different in patients with depression with or without WMH.

Methods: Cognitive functioning was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination during and after a course of ECT in 77 older patients with depression. Serum samples (C-reactive protein [CRP], interleukin-6 [IL-6], interleukin-10 [IL-10] and tumour necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α]) and 3T magnetic resonance imaging were obtained prior to ECT.

Results: An interaction effect was found for IL-10, but not for CRP, IL-6 or TNF-α.

Conclusion: In general, the association between inflammatory markers and cognition in patients with depression treated with ECT is not different in patients with WMH compared to patients without WMH.

Keywords: Depression; cognition; cytokines; electroconvulsive therapy; hyperintensities; inflammation; white matter.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST/GRANT SUPPORT The authors report no conflicts with any concept discussed in this article. DR has received funding from ZonMW Programme 'Rational Pharmacotherapy' under grant agreement n°2016/15385/ZONMW. No conflicts of interest.

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