Networks and clusters of immunometabolic biomarkers and depression-associated features in middle-aged and older community-dwelling US adults with and without depression.

Authors

Asma Hallab, Health and Aging Brain Study (HABS-HD) Study Team, HABS-HD MPIs, HABS-HD Investigators

Published in

Brain, behavior, & immunity - health. Volume 49. Pages 101103. Epub Sep 17, 2025.

Abstract

Therapy-resistant depression is associated with higher levels of systemic inflammation and increased odds of metabolic disorders. It is, therefore, crucial to identify the biomarkers of high-risk individuals and understand the key features of depression-immunometabolic networks.
The multiethnic ≥50-year-old study population is a subset of the Health and Aging Brain Study: Health Disparities (HABS-HD) study. Spearman's rank correlation network analysis was performed between immunological, metabolic, and subscales of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Significant correlations were then evaluated using a multivariable linear regression analysis, including testing for non-linearity and clinical cutoffs.
Two clusters were formed: the first included the immunometabolic biomarkers, and the second included the different subscales of GDS. The two clusters were significantly correlated at six edges. IL-6 and HbA1c were significantly correlated with anhedonic and melancholic features. Abdominal circumference and BMI were significantly correlated with anhedonic features. In the subgroup without current depression, IL-6 and Abdominal circumference maintained a significant edge with anhedonic features. TNF-alpha/melancholia and IL-6/cognitive concerns were additional relevant edges in older adults. The observed correlations remained statistically significant in the confounder-adjusted regression analysis and followed specific patterns.
Symptom clustering showed its superiority over relying on dichotomized depression diagnoses for identifying relevant immunometabolic biomarkers. This study is a first step toward understanding the particularities of immunometabolic depression for better risk stratification and to direct personalized preventive and therapeutic strategies in multiethnic aging populations.

PMID:
41104357
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 17 Oct 2025.

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