Abstract
Background
Metabolic and inflammatory disorders commonly co-occur with depression and psychosis, with emerging evidence implicating immuno-metabolic dysfunction in their aetiology. Previous studies have reported metabolic dysfunction and inflammation in adults with depression and psychosis. However, longitudinal studies testing the direction of association, and the effects of different dimensions of early-life immuno-metabolic dysfunction on adult psychopathology are limited.
Methods
Using data from 3,258 birth cohort participants we examined longitudinal associations of three metabolic hormones (leptin, adiponectin, insulin) at age 9 with risks for depression- and psychosis-spectrum outcomes at age 24. In addition, using nine immuno-metabolic biomarkers (leptin, adiponectin, insulin, interleukin-6, C-Reactive protein, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein, triglycerides, and BMI), we constructed an exploratory bifactor model showing a general immuno-metabolic factor and three specific factors (adiposity, inflammation, and insulin resistance), which were also used as exposures.
Results
Childhood leptin was associated with adult depressive episode (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=1.31; 95% CI, 1.02-1.71) and negative symptoms (aOR=1.15; 95% CI, 1.07-1.24), but not positive psychotic symptoms. The general immuno-metabolic factor was associated with atypical depressive symptoms (aOR=1.07; 95% CI, 1.01-1.14) and psychotic experiences (aOR=1.21; 95% CI, 1.02-1.44). The adiposity factor was associated with negative symptoms (aOR=1.07; 95% CI 1.02-1.12). Point estimates tended to be larger in women, though 95% credible intervals overlapped with those for men. In women, the inflammatory factor was associated with depressive episodes (aOR=1.27; 95% CI, 1.03-1.57).
Conclusions
While general immuno-metabolic dysfunction in childhood may contribute to risks for both psychotic and depressive symptoms in adulthood, childhood adiposity and inflammation appear to be particularly linked to affective (depressive and negative), but not positive psychotic symptoms.
Metabolic and inflammatory disorders commonly co-occur with depression and psychosis, with emerging evidence implicating immuno-metabolic dysfunction in their aetiology. Previous studies have reported metabolic dysfunction and inflammation in adults with depression and psychosis. However, longitudinal studies testing the direction of association, and the effects of different dimensions of early-life immuno-metabolic dysfunction on adult psychopathology are limited.
Methods
Using data from 3,258 birth cohort participants we examined longitudinal associations of three metabolic hormones (leptin, adiponectin, insulin) at age 9 with risks for depression- and psychosis-spectrum outcomes at age 24. In addition, using nine immuno-metabolic biomarkers (leptin, adiponectin, insulin, interleukin-6, C-Reactive protein, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein, triglycerides, and BMI), we constructed an exploratory bifactor model showing a general immuno-metabolic factor and three specific factors (adiposity, inflammation, and insulin resistance), which were also used as exposures.
Results
Childhood leptin was associated with adult depressive episode (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=1.31; 95% CI, 1.02-1.71) and negative symptoms (aOR=1.15; 95% CI, 1.07-1.24), but not positive psychotic symptoms. The general immuno-metabolic factor was associated with atypical depressive symptoms (aOR=1.07; 95% CI, 1.01-1.14) and psychotic experiences (aOR=1.21; 95% CI, 1.02-1.44). The adiposity factor was associated with negative symptoms (aOR=1.07; 95% CI 1.02-1.12). Point estimates tended to be larger in women, though 95% credible intervals overlapped with those for men. In women, the inflammatory factor was associated with depressive episodes (aOR=1.27; 95% CI, 1.03-1.57).
Conclusions
While general immuno-metabolic dysfunction in childhood may contribute to risks for both psychotic and depressive symptoms in adulthood, childhood adiposity and inflammation appear to be particularly linked to affective (depressive and negative), but not positive psychotic symptoms.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 105707 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Psychoneuroendocrinology |
| Volume | 139 |
| Early online date | 26 Feb 2022 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 May 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The UK Medical Research Council and Wellcome (Grant ref: 217065/Z/19/Z ) and the University of Bristol provide core support for ALSPAC. A comprehensive list of grant funding is available on the ALSPAC website ( http://www.bristol.ac.uk/alspac/external/documents/grant-acknowledgements.pdf ). The outcome data from age 24 was specifically funded by MRC grants MR/L022206/1 and MR/M006727/1 . NAD acknowledges funding support from a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Academic Clinical Fellowship in Mental Health . BIP acknowledges funding support from the NIHR ( Doctoral Research Fellowship Grant No. DRF-2018-11-ST2-018 ). HJJ acknowledges support from the NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre. GMK acknowledges funding support from the Wellcome Trust (Grant No. 201486/Z/16/Z ), the Medical Research Council (Grant No. MC_PC_17213 , Grant No. MR/S037675/1 , and Grant No. MR/W014416/1 ), The MQ: Transforming Mental Health (Grant No. MQDS17/40 ), and the BMA Foundation (J. Moulton Grant 2019 ).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022
Research Groups and Themes
- ALSPAC
Keywords
- ALSPAC
- Depression
- Psychosis
- Leptin
- Adipokine
- Negative symptoms