Using a simple and easily available indicator, AIP, to represent the degree of atherosclerosis, we conducted a cross-sectional study to reveal, for the first time, the relationship between AIP levels and depression in women in different menopausal states, and our results suggest that high AIP levels are associated with a high risk of depression in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. The gene discussed is AIP; the disease is atherosclerosis.