Association between serum oxytocin levels and depressive state in community‐dwelling older adults: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract Aim Identifying peripheral biomarkers related to the prevention or modification of unhealthy mental conditions in older adults would be extremely beneficial. This study aimed to evaluate serum oxytocin levels in older adults living in a rural community and their association with cognitive function, anxiety, depressive state, and well‐being. Methods This survey was conducted between November 2016 and September 2017 in Kurokawa‐cho, Imari, Saga Prefecture, Japan, among people aged ≥65 years. Blood samples were collected from the participants for serum oxytocin level analysis, which was performed using peptide enzyme immunoassay. Participants underwent neuropsychological assessments, including the Mini‐Mental State Examination, Clinical Dementia Rating, Frontal Assessment Battery, State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory, 15‐item Geriatric Depression Scale, and 17‐item Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale. We examined the association between serum oxytocin levels and neuropsychological assessment results. Results Out of 94 participants, 25 were men and 69 were women, with mean ages of 78.24 ± 3.85 years and 78.10 ± 5.43 years, respectively. Serum oxytocin levels were negatively associated with 15‐item Geriatric Depression Scale scores. Additionally, nondepressive state/depressive state was classified by the 15‐item Geriatric Depression Scale (cut‐off 5/6). Logistic regression analysis showed that higher serum oxytocin levels tended to be associated with a less depressive state at that time. Conclusions Serum oxytocin levels may be associated with depressive state in adults aged ≥65 years.