Clinical correlation of cerebrospinal fluid total tau levels and depression as measured by PHQ9 total in a memory clinic

Background Tau protein levels in cerebrospinal fluid is indicative of Alzheimer's dementia. We correlated PHQ‐9 screen severity of depression to CSF tau levels in a memory clinic sample. Method We analyzed data from patients attending a memory clinic in the south shore of Boston from 2010 to 2019 who had a lumbar puncture to obtain CSF tau levels. We correlated depression screening data from PHQ9 scores. Univariate analyses used Spearman correlation. A multivariate regression model was created including covariates of age, sex, and race. Results Depression as measured by PHQ9 total was not correlated to total tau levels in CSF. Conclusion In a memory clinic sample, CSF tau levels did not correlate to PHQ9 scores.