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White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are prevalent in the older adult and are often accompanied by cognitive decline and an increased risk of dementia. However, the roles of WMHs in the periventricular white matter and deep white matter regions in the aging process remain controversial. This study aimed to investigate the WMH burden across the adult lifespan and determine the interrelationships among age, WMH, and cognition. The present study included 312 healthy individuals aged 21–89 years who received structural magnetic resonance imaging and cognitive assessments. Periventricular WMH (PVWMH) and deep WMH (DWMH) volumes were computed and fitted using different regression models to evaluate the trajectory of WMH changes across the lifespan. Our findings support that the changes in WMH volume in the healthy population follow a nonlinear pattern with age, especially in PVWMH. With 2-mediator mediation analysis, we further suggest that the effect of age on the cognitive performance is mediated only by PVWMH. Conclusively, the increased PVWMH, but not DWMH, plays a major role in predicting cognitive aging in healthy adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Depression and anxiety frequently co-occur in patients with cirrhosis, but their underlying biological substrates are unclear. There is now evidence to suggest that depression is accompanied by signs of an immune response. This study investigated the correlation between depression/anxiety and T-lymphocyte subsets in liver cirrhosis patients. Methods: A total of 59 patients (37 males and 22 females; aged between 26-81 years) with cirrhosis were enrolled in the study. Severity of depression and anxiety were assessed through the Hamilton depressive scale (HAMD, the 24-item version) and the Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA). T-lymphocyte subsets (CD3, CD4, and CD8) in peripheral blood were determined by flow cytometry. The relationship between lymphocyte subsets and depression/anxiety scores was studied by correlation analysis. Results: The mean total HAMD and HAMA scores for the 59 subjects were 12.8 ± 10.4 (range = 0-46) and 7.0 ± 5.7 (range = 0-26), respectively. Fourteen of 59 subjects (23.7%) had HAMD scores equal to or above 20, indicative of depression. The percentage of CD8, but not CD3 or CD4, in T-lymphocyte subsets was positively correlated with depression (HAMD) (r = 0.268, P = 0.043) and anxiety severity (HAMA) (r = 0.321, P = 0.013). After controlling for age and Child-Pugh scores, the correlations were still significant. Conclusion: Around one-fourth of cirrhosis patients may have depression, although depression is not related to cirrhosis severity. Our findings are the first to show that depression and anxiety may be associated with increased levels of CD8 in T-lymphocyte subsets in cirrhosis patients, suggesting that an imbalance of T-lymphocyte subsets may be a factor facilitating depression and anxiety in cirrhotic patients. Examination of CD8 T-lymphocytes may prove useful in assessing the potential relationship between depression, anxiety, immunity, and liver cirrhosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Aging is associated with cognitive deterioration, and genetic factors are implicated in individual cognitive differences in the aged. The C677T mutation in the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR) yields a common thermolabile variant (T) with reduced enzyme activity and consequent elevation of serum homocysteine concentrations. We designed the present study to investigate whether this functional polymorphism may affect global and specific cognitive functions in older Chinese males without dementia. Methods: The subjects included 356 elderly males without major psychiatric disorders or dementia, who were assessed by the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instruments (CASI) and the Wechsler Digit Span Task tests. Results: A significant association was found between the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and total CASI scores (p = 0.012), particularly in short-term memory (p = 0.002) and concentration/mental manipulation (p = 0.007). Post hoc tests indicated that the C/T heterozygotes achieved better cognitive function test results than C/C or T/T carriers. No association was found between the MTHFR genotype and the Wechsler Digit Span Task tests. Conclusion: These results suggest that a heterozygote advantage exists for the MTHFR C677T polymorphism in specific cognitive functions in elderly Chinese males without dementia. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Bell's palsy and anxiety disorders share numerous risk factors (e.g., immune response, ischemia, and psychological stress). However, there have been no studies on the bidirectional temporal association between the two illnesses. In this study, we used the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) to test the bidirectional association between Bell's palsy and anxiety disorders. We hypothesized that patients with Bell's palsy would have an increased risk of subsequent anxiety disorders later in life and that, conversely, those with anxiety disorders would have an increased likelihood of developing Bell's palsy later in life.Methods: We conducted two retrospective cohort studies using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). Study 1 included 8070 patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders and 32,280 controls without anxiety disorders who were matched with sex, age, and enrollment date to analyze the following risk of Bell's palsy among both groups. Study 2 included 4980 patients with Bell's palsy and 19,920 controls without Bell's palsy who were matched with sex, age, and enrollment date to analyze the following risk of anxiety disorders among both groups. The patient records selected for the studies were dated between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2004. All subjects were observed until their outcomes of interest, death or December 31, 2009.Results: After adjustment for age, sex, comorbidities, urbanization, and income, the hazard ratio (HR) for patients with anxiety disorders to contract Bell's palsy was 1.53 (95% CI, 1.21-1.94, P<.001), and the HR for patients with Bell's palsy to develop an anxiety disorder was 1.59 (95% CI, 1.23-2.06, P<.001).Conclusion: This study found a bidirectional temporal association between Bell's palsy and anxiety disorders. After one of these conditions develops, the morbidity rate for the other significantly increases. Additional studies are required to determine whether these two conditions share the same pathogenic mechanisms, and whether successfully treating one will reduce the morbidity rate for the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Previous cross-sectional studies have suggested a comorbid association between atopic dermatitis (AD) and depressive disorder as well as anxiety disorders, but the temporal relationship was not determined. Methods Using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, 8208 AD patients aged 12 and older without psychiatric history and age-/sex-matched (1:1) controls between 1998 and 2008 were enrolled in our study and followed to the end of 2011. Subjects who developed major depression, any depressive disorder, and anxiety disorders during the follow-up were identified. Results The Cox regression analysis after adjusting for demographic data and atopic comorbidities demonstrated that patients with AD had an elevated risk of developing major depression (hazard ratio [HR]: 6.56, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.64–11.84), any depressive disorder (HR: 5.44, 95% CI: 3.99–7.44), and anxiety disorders (HR: 3.57, 95% CI: 2.55–4.98). Stratified by age group, both adolescents and adults with AD were prone to developing major depression (HR: 4.26, 95% CI: 1.39–13.13; HR: 7.56, 95% CI: 3.75–15.23), any depressive disorder (HR: 4.38, 95% CI: 2.09–9.18; HR: 5.66, 95% CI: 4.01–7.99), and anxiety disorders (HR: 5.40, 95% CI: 2.02–14.39; HR: 3.36, 95% CI: 2.38–4.80). Conclusions AD in both adolescence and adulthood increased the risk of developing major depression, any depressive disorder, and anxiety disorders in later life. Further studies would be required to clarify the possible underlying mechanism between AD and depression as well as anxiety disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]