Insulin-like growth factor-1: a possible marker for emotional and cognitive disturbances, and treatment effectiveness in major depressive disorder

Abstract

Depression and cognitive dysfunction share a common neuropathological platform. Abnormal neural plasticity in the frontolimbic circuits has been linked to changes in the expression of neurotrophic factors, including IGF-1. These changes may result in clinical abnormalities observed over the course of major depressive disorder (MDD), including cognitive dysfunction. The present review aimed to summarize evidence regarding abnormalities of peripheral IGF-1 in MDD patients and assess a marker and predictive role of the neurotrophin for emotional and cognitive disturbances, and treatment effectiveness. A literature search of the PubMed database was conducted for studies, in which peripheral IGF-1 levels were evaluated. Our analysis revealed four main findings: (1) IGF-1 levels in MDD patients mismatch across the studies, which may arise from various factors, e.g., age, gender, the course of the disease, presence of cognitive impairment, ongoing therapy, or general health conditions; (2) the initial peripheral IGF-1 levels may predict the occurrence of depression in future; (3) peripheral IGF-1 levels may reflect cognitive dysfunction, although the data is limited; (4) it is difficult to evaluate the influence of treatment on IGF-1 levels as there is discrepancy of this growth factor among the studies at baseline, although most of them showed a decrease in IGF-1 levels after treatment.

MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Lessons from growth hormone receptor gene-disrupted mice: are there benefits of endocrine defects?

“…In human acromegaly patients, recent studies have reported cognition deficits, decreased short-term and long-term memory, anxiety and impaired decision making, and decreased activities in pre-frontal and mid-temporal cortices in brain (274,275,276,277). Interestingly, recent reports and multiple meta-analyses directly implicate a higher than normal serum IGF-1 as a disease trait marker in major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) further stimulating the pleiotropy of GH action in cognitive development and maintenance (278,279,280,281).…”

Serum insulin-like growth factor-1 as a potential marker for MDD diagnosis, its clinical characteristics, and treatment efficacy validation: data from an open-label vortioxetine study

“…It is involved in cell growth, differentiation, and maturation (through DNA synthesis and mitosis stimulation), in metabolic (i.e., glucose uptake and protein production) [13] and neuroplastic processes (synapses formation, neurotransmitters releasing, and exciting of neurons) [12]. Due to IGF-1 pleiotropic functions, it has been assumed that impairments in the IGF-1 system might be responsible for some aspects of MDD pathogenesis [13], as well as peripheral IGF-1 levels could have the marker value [14]. According to our recent review [14], the majority of studies demonstrate higher concentrations of peripheral IGF-1 in MDD patients compared to healthy controls (HC).…”

Poststroke Depression Biomarkers: A Narrative Review

“…A growing amount of evidence indicates the pathogenic influence of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) on a major depressive disorder (MDD) ( 95 ). Most of the studies showed that increased peripheral IGF-1 levels might predict the occurrence of MDD, whereas decreased IGF-1 levels might reflect the treatment effectiveness ( 96 ). Nevertheless, Yue et al found no differences in serum IGF-1 concentrations in PSD patients as opposed to non-depressed poststroke patients and persons with MDD ( 97 ).…”