Resting high-frequency heart rate variability moderates the association between early-life adversity and body adiposity

A viewpoint on aldosterone and BMI related brain morphology in relation to treatment outcome in patients with major depression

An abundance of knowledge has been collected describing the involvement of neuroendocrine parameters in major depression. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis regulating cortisol release has been extensively studied; however, attempts to target the HPA axis pharmacologically to treat major depression have failed. This review focuses on the importance of the adrenocortical stress hormone aldosterone, which is released by adrenocorticotropic hormone and angiotensin, and the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) in depression. Depressed patients, in particular those with atypical depression, have signs of central hyperactivation of the aldosterone sensitive MR, potentially as a consequence of a reactive aldosterone release induced by low blood pressure and as a result of low sensitivity of peripheral MR. This is reflected in reduced heart rate variability, increased salt appetite and sleep changes in this group of patients. In addition, enlarged brain ventricles, compressed corpus callosum and changes of the choroid plexus are associated with increased aldosterone (in relation to cortisol). Furthermore, subjects with these features often show obesity. These characteristics are related to a worse antidepressant treatment outcome. Alterations in choroid plexus function as a consequence of increased aldosterone levels, autonomic dysregulation, metabolic changes and/or inflammation may be involved. The characterization of this regulatory system is in its early days but may identify new targets for therapeutic interventions.

Affective reactivity, resting heart rate variability, and marital quality: A 10-year longitudinal study of U.S. adults

Increasing evidence suggests that heightened affective reactivity to daily stressors has implications for mental and physical health, yet little is known about the long-term repercussions of day-to-day stress reactivity for marital quality. This study examined associations between affective reactivity and two indicators of marital well-being (marital satisfaction and marital risk) over a 10-year period. An additional aim was to investigate the potential role of resting high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV), an index of cardiac vagal regulation, in moderating the association between affective reactivity and marital quality. These relationships were examined using data from 344 married adults in the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS II and III) study. Respondents completed daily telephone interviews and longitudinal reports of stressors, affect, and marital quality. HF-HRV was measured at rest. Greater affective reactivity to daily stressors predicted lower marital satisfaction and higher marital risk 10 years later. These associations remained after adjustments for potential confounders, including demographics, physical and behavioral factors, and psychological characteristics. In addition, HF-HRV moderated the associations between affective reactivity and marital quality. Results are consistent with a buffering effect, in which high levels of HF-HRV offset the inverse association between affective reactivity and marital quality. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).