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White matter microstructural abnormalities in late-life depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Qiong Yang
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
Xuebing Huang
Affiliation:
Institute of Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
Nan Hong
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
Xin Yu
Affiliation:
Institute of Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the location and the degree of white matter damage in late-life depression using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

Methods: Thirty-one patients with late-life depression and 15 healthy volunteers matched for age, gender and years of education received conventional MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and MR-diffusion tensor scanning. The fractional anisotropy (FA) values of white matter were measured respectively in frontal and temporal regions and the corpus callosum.

Results: FA values were significantly decreased in the frontal (superior and middle frontal gyrus), and temporal (right parahippocampal gyrus) regions of elderly patients with depression compared with healthy controls.

Conclusion: Microstructural changes in the frontal (superior and middle frontal gyrus) and temporal (right parahippocampal gyrus) areas are associated with late-life depression.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
International Psychogeriatric Association 2007

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