@article{ref1,
title="Physical exercise counteracts genetic susceptibility to depression",
journal="Neuropsychobiology",
year="2015",
author="Haslacher, Helmuth and Michlmayr, Matthias and Batmyagmar, Delgerdalai and Perkmann, Thomas and Ponocny-Seliger, Elisabeth and Scheichenberger, Vanessa and Pilger, Alexander and Dal-Bianco, Peter and Lehrner, Johann and Pezawas, Lukas and Wagner, Oswald and Winker, Robert",
volume="71",
number="3",
pages="168-175",
abstract="BACKGROUND/AIMS: Depression is a highly prevalent disorder in elderly individuals. A genetic variant (rs6265) of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) impacting on emotion processing is known to increase the risk for depression. We aim to investigate whether intensive endurance sports might attenuate this genetic susceptibility in a cohort of elderly marathon athletes. <br><br>METHODS: Fifty-five athletes and 58 controls were included. rs6265 of the BDNF gene was genotyped by the TaqMan method. Depressive symptoms were assessed by standardized self-rating tests (BDI = Beck Depression Inventory, GDS = Geriatric Depression Scale). <br><br>RESULTS: In multivariable analysis of BDI and GDS scores, the interaction between group (athletes vs. controls) and genotypes ([C];[C] vs. [C];[T] + [T];[T]) was found to be statistically significant (BDI: p = 0.027, GDS: p = 0.013). Among [C];[C] carriers, merely controls had an increased relative risk of 3.537 (95% CI = 1.276-9.802) of achieving a subclinical depression score ≥10 on the BDI. There was no such effect in carriers of the [T] allele. In a multivariable binary logistic regression, genetic information, group (athletes/controls), but no information on rs6265 allele carrier status presented as a significant predictor of BDI scores ≥10. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Physical exercise positively affects BDNF effects on mood. Since 66Met BDNF secretion is impaired, this effect seems to be much stronger in [C];[C] homozygous individuals expressing the 66Val variant. This confirms that genetic susceptibility to depressive symptoms can indeed be influenced by endurance sports in elderly people. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0302-282X",
doi="10.1159/000381350",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000381350"
}