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Lifestyle multidomain intervention, omega-3 supplementation, or both for reducing the risk of developing clinically relevant depressive symptoms in older adults with memory complaints? Secondary analysis from the MAPT trial
Maltais M, de Souto Barreto P, Pothier K, Cantet C, Andrieu S, Rolland Y, Vellas B, MAPT/DSA Study Group.. Experimental gerontology, 2019-02-26
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Background We tested the associations of a lifestyle multidomain intervention (MI), omega-3 supplementation (O3) or their combination with the change of clinically meaningful depressive symptoms in older adults. Methods Secondary analysis of the 3-year Multidomain Alzheimer Preventive Trial (MAPT), in which 1679 people, ≥70 years with memory complaints were randomized into: MI, O3, MI + O3, or placebo. MI was composed of nutritional and physical activity counselling and cognitive training. O3 supplementation corresponded to a daily dose of 1000 mg of omega-3. Discrete-time cox regressions were performed for each outcome. Three binary variables of incidence of depressive symptoms were created from the 15-item geriatric depression scale (GDS-15): minimum clinically meaningful depressive symptoms (≥2-point increase in GDS-15), moderate depressive symptoms (GDS-15 ≥ 5), and severe depressive symptoms (GDS-15 ≥ 10) DS. Results Discrete-time cox proportional hazards have found no associations for all of the analysis. The incidence of severe depressive symptoms across groups were, respectively: 1.1, 2.4, 2.3 and 2.5 per 100 person year for MI + O3, for O3, for MI, for placebo. There was a trend for a decreased risk of developing severe DS compared to placebo in the MI + O3 group (p = 0.085 after adjustment). Conclusions To conclude, we did not find any association of a lifestyle multidomain intervention with the onset of clinically depressive symptoms in older adults with memory complaints. A study with a more intensive multidomain intervention might bring further insights on this topic.
Key findings
- Results Discrete-time cox proportional hazards have found no associations for all of the analysis.
- There was a trend for a decreased risk of developing severe DS compared to placebo in the MI + O3 group (p = 0.085 after adjustment).
- Conclusions To conclude, we did not find any association of a lifestyle multidomain intervention with the onset of clinically depressive symptoms in older adults with memory complaints.
Why it matters
In this secondary analysis of 1,679 older adults with memory complaints, no association was found between a lifestyle multidomain intervention, omega-3 supplementation, or both, and the onset of clinically meaningful depressive symptoms. There was only a trend toward reduced risk of severe depressive symptoms in the combined group, which was not statistically significant.
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Study details
- Participants1,679
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 56/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Experimental gerontology) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Experimental Gerontology: journal h-index 195 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial (from PubMed type “Randomized Controlled Trial”) |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2019 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 1,679 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 6 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 9 year(s) since 2019 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Bruno J. Vellas: h-index 135 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Inserm: institution h-index 1,988 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 30817982) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 56 / 100 | — |
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May need a subscription Unpaywall, Europe PMC and OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 10 Oct 2026), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Maltais, M., de Souto Barreto, P., Pothier, K., Cantet, C., Andrieu, S., Rolland, Y., et al. (2019). Lifestyle multidomain intervention, omega-3 supplementation, or both for reducing the risk of developing clinically relevant depressive symptoms in older adults with memory complaints? Secondary analysis from the MAPT trial. Experimental gerontology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2019.02.010
Vancouver
Maltais M, de Souto Barreto P, Pothier K, Cantet C, Andrieu S, Rolland Y, et al. Lifestyle multidomain intervention, omega-3 supplementation, or both for reducing the risk of developing clinically relevant depressive symptoms in older adults with memory complaints? Secondary analysis from the MAPT trial. Experimental gerontology. 2019. doi:10.1016/j.exger.2019.02.010. PMID: 30817982.
BibTeX
@article{maltais2019-30817982,
author = {Maltais, M. and de Souto Barreto, P. and Pothier, K. and Cantet, C. and Andrieu, S. and Rolland, Y. and Vellas, B. and {MAPT/DSA Study Group}},
title = {{Lifestyle multidomain intervention, omega-3 supplementation, or both for reducing the risk of developing clinically relevant depressive symptoms in older adults with memory complaints? Secondary analysis from the MAPT trial}},
journal = {Experimental gerontology},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.1016/j.exger.2019.02.010},
pmid = {30817982},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2019.02.010}
}
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