Biomarkers.

Background: Diabetes, a chronic metabolic disease leading to damage to multiple organs and the nervous system, is associated with cognitive decline. Moreover, Vitamin D (VD) insufficiency/deficiency is implicated as a risk factor for diabetes. However, the specifics of the relationships between these variables remain unclear.

Developing Topics.

Background: Vitamin D (VD) deficiency is a risk factor for dementia and Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Previously, we described health disparities in VD status, depression, and Hispanic ethnicity (HE) in an aging West Texas population from Project FRONTIER (Facing Rural Obstacles to Health Care Now Through Intervention, Education, and Research). Using the same sample, we examined relationships between VD status, health care access, and General Health Rating (GHR) METHOD: Of 299 participants in which serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D levels were available, we examined relationships between access to care, VD, HE, and GHR.

Hyperglycemia sensitizes female mice to stress-induced depressive-like behavior in an inflammation-independent manner.

Background: Depression is a multifaceted disorder that represents one of the most common causes of disability. The risk for developing depression is increased in women and among individuals with chronic diseases. For example, individuals in the United States with diabetes mellitus (DM) are at a twofold increased risk of developing depression compared to the general population and approximately one-quarter of women with diabetes have comorbid depression.

Chronic Stress Exacerbates Hyperglycemia-Induced Affective Symptoms in Male Mice.

Introduction: Among chronically ill populations, affective disorders remain underdiagnosed and undertreated. A high degree of comorbidity exists between diabetes and affective disorders, particularly depression and anxiety. The mechanisms underlying stress-induced affective dysregulation are likely distinct from those induced by diabetes.