Center for Integrated Molecular Imaging, Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet and University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
J Alzheimers Dis. 2011;23(2):177-93. doi: 10.3233/JAD-2010-100390.
The existence of a high co-morbidity between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and depression has been known for a long time. More interesting though are recent studies indicating that depression and number of depressive episodes earlier in life is associated with increased risk of AD development. This suggests the existence of common neuropathological mechanisms behind depression and AD. Here we propose that the brain changes associated with depressive episodes that compromise the brain's ability to cope with stress may constitute risk factors for development of AD. Furthermore, in individuals with a genetic linkage to depression, there may be an increased vulnerability towards the initiation of a detrimental neurodegenerative cascade. The following review will deal with the various observations reported within the different neurobiological systems known to be involved and affected in depression, like serotonergic and cholinergic system, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and brain derived neurotrophic factor, and discussed in relation to AD.
阿尔茨海默病（AD）和抑郁症之间存在高度共病已经是众所周知的事实。然而，更有趣的是最近的研究表明，抑郁症和一生中更早发生的抑郁发作次数与 AD 发展风险增加有关。这表明抑郁症和 AD 背后存在共同的神经病理机制。在这里，我们提出与抑郁发作相关的大脑变化可能会削弱大脑应对压力的能力，从而构成 AD 发展的风险因素。此外，对于具有抑郁遗传联系的个体，可能会增加启动有害神经退行性级联反应的易感性。以下综述将涉及在抑郁症中涉及和受影响的不同神经生物学系统中报告的各种观察结果，如 5-羟色胺能和胆碱能系统、下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴和脑源性神经营养因子，并与 AD 进行讨论。
