Longitudinal changes in the contribution of genetic and environmental influences to symptoms of depression in older male twins

Genetically informative longitudinal data on self-reported symptoms of depr ession allow for an investigation of the causes of stability and change in depression symptoms throughout adult life. In this report, the authors inve stigated the relative contribution of genetic and environmental influences to symptoms of depression in 83 monozygotic and 84 dizygotic male twin pair s from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Twin Study. Pa rticipants first completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale in 1985-1986 and again during 1995-1997. Mean age of twins at baseline was 63 years, range 59 to 70. From cross-sectional genetic analys es we estimated the heritability of CES-D to be 25% (95% confidence interva l [CI], 11%-39%) at baseline and 55% (95% CI, 40%-71%) at follow-up. Fittin g longitudinal genetic models to the two-wave data, we found that stability of symptoms over the 10-year follow-up was due primarily to continuity of genetic influences.