RESUMO

RESUMEN Introducción: La literatura científica indica que hay relación entre la vitamina D (VitD) y el inicio, el tratamiento y el pronóstico de la depresión. Sin embargo, esta línea de investigación continúa siendo motivo de controversia. El propósito del trabajo es analizar la relación entre la depresión y los valores de VitD, controlando por la influencia de la estación. Material y métodos: Estudio observacional y transversal. La muestra quedó conformada por 150 voluntarias adultas (edad, 28-78 arios). Se estratificó la muestra en 3 grupos: depresión sin tratamiento, depresión en tratamiento con antidepresivos y sin depresión (control). Se compararon los valores de VitD. Resultados: Se hallaron diferencias significativas entre los 3 grupos de comparación. El grupo con depresión sin tratamiento obtuvo los valores de VitD más bajos (media, 18,62 ± 8,42 ng/ml), compatibles con una insuficiencia grave. El grupo de participantes con depresión en tratamiento obtuvo valores más altos que el grupo anterior, aunque en la franja de insufi ciencia (23,80 ± 11,30 ng/ml). El tercer grupo (control) obtuvo los valores más altos y acordes con el intervalo deseable (30,19 ± 10,21 ng/ml). No hubo diferencias de edad entre los grupos. Al controlar por posibles efectos de la estación del año, las diferencias previas de VitD entre los 3 grupos se mantuvieron, con un descenso ostensible de todas las medias en el periodo invernal. Conclusiones: La depresión se asocia con valores de VitD insuficientes. El tratamiento con antidepresivos mejora esos valores, aunque continúan siendo insuficientes. Los hallazgos de este estudio refuerzan la evidencia de una asociación entre la depresión y la VitD.

ABSTRACT Introduction: The scientific literature suggests a relationship between vitamin D (VitD) and the onset, treatment and prognosis of depression. However, this line of research continues to be controversial. The aim of the study was to analyse the relationship between depression and VitD values, controlling for the influence of the season. Material and methods: Observational and cross-sectional study. The sample was made up of 150 adult female volunteer participants (aged between 28 and 78 years). The sample was stratified into three groups: a) depression without treatment, b) depression under treat ment with antidepressants, and c) without depression (control). VitD values (ng/ml) were compared. Results: Significant differences were found between the three groups surveyed. The group of participants with depression without treatment obtained the lowest VitD values (mean 18.62 ng/ml; SD 8.42), compatible with severe insufficiency. The group of participants with depression in treatment obtained higher values than the previous group, although in an insufficient range (mean 23.80 ng/ml; SD 11.30). The third group (control) obtained the hig hest values and in accordance with the desirable range (mean 30.19 ng/ml; SD 10.21). There were no age differences between the groups. When controlling for possible effects of the season, the previous differences in VitD between the three groups were maintained, with an evident decrease of all the mean levels in the winter period. Conclusions: Depression is associated with insufficient VitD values. Treatment with antidepressants improves these values, although they continue to be insufficient. The findings of this study reinforce the evidence for an association between depression and VitD.

RESUMO

The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of reproductive aging on executive functions. We assessed executive functions in three groups of healthy women in the premenopausal (n = 45, mean age = 30.89, SD = 10.5), perimenopausal (n = 31, mean age = 50.06, SD = 3.6) and postmenopausal (n = 24, mean age = 63.39, SD = 6.5) phase. No differences between groups were observed in working memory, verbal fluency, inhibitory control, planning, and cognitive flexibility. However, when the analyses were repeated with participants with occupations with lower intellectual demands, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women performed worse than premenopausal women in semantic verbal fluency. This study provides important evidence to understand the effects of reproductive aging on cognitive performance in healthy women. Our findings indicate that cognitive reserve-related factors may be important to understand the differences in executive functions associated with reproductive aging.

Assuntos

RESUMO

INTRODUCTION: It is estimated that population aging will continue to rise over the next few years, increasing cases of cognitive impairment. This requires having short, reliable and low-cost tests aimed at the early detection of cognitive disorders. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) is a widely used test that allows an initial screening of cognitive disorders. Regarding this test, there is no normative data for the Rosario Metropolitan Area, Argentina, in elderly subjects. OBJECTIVE: Obtain normative values for the MMSE test (language Spanish rioplatense version) in inhabitants of the Rosario Metropolitan Area, with ages 50 years and older. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MMSE was administered to 1126 subjects in the context of a campaign to prevent cognitive impairment. When applying the exclusion criteria, the sample was reduced to 824 subjects. RESULTS: Schooling and age influence the performance of the test, while gender had no incidence. The means and standard deviations are reported according to levels of schooling and age ranges. CONCLUSIONS: These norms indicate an unprecedented local frame of reference for the purpose of researching cognitive disorders in subjects 50 years of age and older.

Assuntos

RESUMO

The Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP) is a hormone secreted by the heart, and, due to its mechanisms in the central nervous system, it is credited with a possible anxiolytic and stress-reducing effect. The aim of this study consisted of examining the values of ANP in adults and its relationship with anxiety and depression. An exploratory, observational and cross-sectional study was adopted. The sample was composed by 30 attending a Mental Health Service. The Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory were applied, and a negative association between ANP values and the depressive state under Beck scale (p=0.017) was observed, more precisely lower ANP levels in patients with Beck's severe depression state. There were no relevant associations between ANP values and Beck's anxiety states. In order to reinforce this research topic, it is necessary to perform longitudinal studies, gather wider samples and include biological indicators for anxiety and depression as alpha-amylase and cortisol.

Assuntos