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Show Plage October 22, 1999 The Summit County Bee B4 American Heart Association Journal Report "Silent Stroke Linked To Depression Researchers have found a connection between depression and silent stroke," a brain abnormality. In a study published today in Stroke. Journal of the American HeaTl Association, researchers say individuals who develop depression after age SO should be evaluated for Ktfoke. A silent stroke occurs when small blood vessels in the brain become blocked or rupture. They are called silent strokes because the classic warning signs of stroke such as severe headaches, dizziness or loss of motor skills does not accompany them. Individuals often don't realize they've even had a stroke. Over time, these smaller blood vessels are unable to deliver blood or oxygen to the brain, and cells die. Eventually, an individual may develop problems with memory or concentration and may even have difficulty walking. Depression may indicate the presence of small blockages, called lesions, of the blood vessels in the brain that could provide a warning of a potential stroke before it happens." says the study's lead author, David C. Steffens, M.D.. assistant professor of psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center in ' Durham. N.C. Researchers say the findings suggest that individuals, especially those at risk for stroke, need to be carefully monitored for depression. Depression may indicate that a silent stroke has already occurred. Further work is needed to sec if indi iduals with silent strokes arc at risk to develop larger strokes and vascular dementia a condition of memory loss and other cognitive problems that result from stroke. Although earlier studies suggested a link between depression and brain injury, most of those were small. The Duke study examined more than 3.600 elderly individuals emolied in the Cardiovascular Health Study, which recruited subjects from Medicare lists in four communities County, N.C.; Sacramento County. Calif.; Washington County, Md.; and Pittsburgh. Pa. The patients agreed to have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed as part of the study. An MRI is a noninvasive imaging technique that allows physicians to view the brain. Each subject also answered a questionnaire to measure depressive symptoms experienced in the previous symptoms may differ from those seen in younger people," Steffens explains. 'Their depression may be more characteristically marked by apathy, a loss of interest in their usual activities, instead of sadness. So. as a result, neither the patients, their families nor their physician, may recognize these characteristics as signs of clinical depression. Patients with risk factors for heart attack and stroke need to he closely monitored for the development of week. Silent strokes were diagnosed by examining lesions in the Basal ganglia. also called the subcortical gray matter. Uicatcd deep within the brain, the basal ganglia acts as a relay station between different parts of the brain by producing chemicals such as serotonin and norepinephrine. These regulate the area of the brain known as the cortex, where information is processed. These small lesions that we found deep in the brain may represent a kind of breakdown in the connection between the basal ganglia and the cortex," Steffens says. The number of small lesions, less than 3 millimeters in diameter, in the d basal ganglia was significantly with depressive symptoms. The lesions appear to be caused by small strokes. The researchers divided the subjects into four groups based on their scores on the depression questionnaire. By comparing the least and the most depressed, they determined that having basal ganglia lesions increased the risk of reporting severe depression by 40 percent, he says. "Depression is often overlooked in the elderly because its depression," says Steffens. Coauthors include: Michael J. Helms. B.S.; K. Ranga Rama Krishnan, M.D.; and Gregory L. Burke, M.D. gene. The researchers are conducting a multi-yea- r study of Utah families one of the largest and most extensive studies in the nation - and are in need of participants who have three or more blood relatives who suffer from bipolar nr unipolar depression and who are willing to complete a family health questionnaire and mental-healt- h .survey. Our goal is to find predisposing genes for common disorders." says l.isa Cannon-Albrigh- t, Ph.D, direcLDS tor of Hospital Genetic Research. "Our hope is that by identifying the predisposing genes and understanding them there will be responsible tor this type of depression will be hardci. but the benefit will likely be grejtci since more people suffer from this form of depression." says Dr. Cannon-Albrigh- Limited Time Dodge, Chrysler Plymouth Jeep & Eagle Dodge & Plymouth our Newly Remodeled and Expanded Park City Store Wire non twice the size - Dodge Trucks Rams & Dakotas Stop by! Russ Corrigan Motors major loss. It's not a personal weakness or a character (law. It's not something you can just snap out of. Cannon-Albrigh- t. Dr. says is a disease that re"Depression quires medical intervention. We hope our research will make a difference for future generations of Utahns w ho may be affected by Morgan , Carpet Tile 'Woods Vinyl Oreck Vacuums KlnibaH Junction City 310 I.M, 734 Miyliway 40, ,C ItaMiwiHR Utah LENDER each o.a.c. Park City Municipal Corporation is now accepting applications for the position of Seasonal Bus Operator for the 1999 2000 Winter Season. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age, possess a good driving record, and be neat in appearance. Park City Transit offers qualified candidates the following: If you have questions about participation in the study, or to enroll, please call LDS Hospital Genetic 4 or Research at 5X1-110- Professional Training including a Utah Commercial Drivers License. Excellent Bonus incentives $10.00 per hour to start Subscribe Applications may be obtained at the Park City Public Works Service Center located at 1053 Ironhorse Drive and in the Human Resources Department at City Hall, 445 Marsac Avenue. cIo(Ifie For further Information please call The Park City Municipal Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 615-535- 2. Bee! eating patterns; irritability, anxiousness. or restlessness; inability to concentrate, recall or make decisions; fatigue or loss of energy; feelings of worthliness or relentless or excessive or recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. "Clinical depression is more than having a bud day or coping with a HIGH COUNTRY HEALTH FOODS 1680 Ute Blvd. Sle Lot Loans Construction Loans sr RaL 435-649-53- 56 tin i:itk you EQUAL HUUSMQ W. 29 6 mo. earn 829-324- 5 Norwest Mortgage from start to finish take & 1 435-657-- 1 Let or Offer-Hurr- y! Visit s Mini-Van- 1 1 Both Locations New & Used Sales & Service t. Family members who should consider participation in the LDS Hospital study arc those who have experienced five or more of the following symptoms nearly every day for at least two weeks: loss of pleasure; feelings of sadness or hopelessness; changes in sleeping and Roil In-Sto- ck Carpet Specials! Hospital Researchers Studying Link Between Depression and Genes greater opportunities in the future for early diagnosis and treatment of depression and other diseases." The LDS Hospital study is currently one of less than a handful of studies in the country that are looking at the genetic links of unipolar depression, which is much more common than hipolai dcpicssion. "Because umpofui dcpicssion is the more common form of dcpicssion. finding the genes that may be Big Savings on asso-cialc- LDS During the course of their lives, millions of Americans will experience some form of clinical depression. While treatment options have improved over the past few years, the root cause of depression is still not clearly understood. Genetic researchers at LDS Hospital, though, have a hypothesis that is gaining support in the scientific community. 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