The Dubbo Study

Article Title
Low serum cholesterol is not associated with depression in the elderly: data from an Australian community study of the elderly
Article Authors
McCallum J; Simons L; Simons J; Friedlander Y
Link to PubMed for extract
Article Journal
Aust NZ J Med 1994:24;561-564.
Article Synopsis
Two studies carried out in California and France revealed that elderly men with low serum cholesterol manifested high depression scores. In contrast to these results a Finnish study and the preliminary data from an Australian study of the elderly in Dubbo did not find the same relationship between the two conditions.

The Dubbo Study questioned these conflicting results in 2805 men and women and determined whether low serum cholesterol is associated with depressive symptoms in older Australians.

The study did not observe a relationship between low serum cholesterol and depressive symptoms. However, ill health, disability and stressful life transitions, like death of a spouse and inadequate finances, were found to be directly associated with depressive symptoms.