Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) might be involved in the development of cognitive frailty and depression. Therefore, we evaluated cross-sectional associations of plasma GDF15 with combined cognitive-frailty-and-depression in older (i.e. ≥ 55 years) and younger adults of the MARK-AGE study. In the present work, samples and data of MARK-AGE (“European study to establish bioMARKers of human AGEing”) participants (N = 2736) were analyzed. Cognitive frailty was determined by the global cognitive functioning score (GCF) and depression by the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS score). Adults were classified into three groups: (I) neither-cognitive-frailty-nor-depression, (II) either-cognitive-frailty-or-depression or (III) both-cognitive-frailty-and-depression. Cross-sectional associations were determined by unadjusted and by age, BMI, sex, comorbidities and hsCRP-adjusted linear and logistic regression analyses. Cognitive frailty, depression, age and GDF15 were significantly related within the whole study sample. High GDF15 levels were significantly associated with both-cognitive-frailty-and-depression (adjusted β = 0.177 [0.044 – 0.310], p = 0.009), and with low GCF scores and high SDS scores. High GDF15 concentrations and quartiles were significantly associated with higher odds to have both-cognitive-frailty-and-depression (adjusted odds ratio = 2.353 [1.267 – 4.372], p = 0.007; and adjusted odds ratio = 1.414 [1.025 – 1.951], p = 0.035, respectively) independent of age, BMI, sex, comorbidities and hsCRP. These associations remained significant when evaluating older adults. We conclude that plasma GDF15 concentrations are significantly associated with combined cognitive-frailty-and-depression status and, with cognitive frailty and depressive symptoms separately in old as well as young community-dwelling adults.

© 2023. The Author(s).

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TitleAssociations of circulating GDF15 with combined cognitive frailty and depression in older adults of the MARK-AGE study.
DateApril 1st, 2024
Issue nameGeroScience
Issue numberv46.2:1657-1669
DOI10.1007/s11357-023-00902-6
PubMed37715843
AuthorsKochlik B, Herpich C, Moreno-Villanueva M, Klaus S, Müller-Werdan U, Weinberger B, Fiegl S, Toussaint O, Debacq-Chainiaux F, Schön C, Bernhard J, Breusing N, Gonos ES, Franceschi C, Capri M, Sikora E, Hervonen A, Hurme M, Slagboom PE, Dollé MET, Jansen E, Grune T, Bürkle A & Norman K
KeywordsAging, Biomarker, Cognitive frailty, Depression, GDF15
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