Hippocampal volume and subcortical white matter lesions in late life depression: comparison of early and late onset depression

Abstract

In late life depression, age of first depression onset may distinguish between different independent neuropathological mechanisms. A small hippocampus volume may be a neuroanatomical marker of EOD depression and larger subcortical white matter lesions could be an intermediate between cerebrovascular disease and LOD.

Differentiating early and late‐onset depression with multichannel near‐infrared spectroscopy

“…It is of interest to determine whether dysfunction in the superior temporal areas is associated with medial temporal lobe (hippocampal) atrophy, which has been reported recently in LOD. [9][10][11] However, NIRS is limited in that it can reliably measure cortical function, but not that of deep structures. To explore deep structures, including the hippocampus and limbic system, other functional imaging techniques, such as PET and fMRI must be used.…”

“…7 Morphological differences in the brain have also been suggested to distinguish between EOD and LOD. These include enlarged third and lateral ventricles, 8 reduced regional hippocampal volume, [9][10][11] and callosal thinning in the genu and splenium 12 in LOD. Among various morphological findings distinguishing LOD from EOD, vascular lesions observed in the subcortical structures are the most consistent and robust abnormality reported in LOD.…”

Long-Term Adaptive Changes Induced by Antidepressants: From Conventional to Novel Therapies

“…Recurrent MDD Lower hippocampal volume [211,212] Reduced volume in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex [213] Lower plasma BDNF [172] First-episode depression Lower hippocampal volume [214,215] Smaller left hippocampal volume only in males [216] Lower plasma BDNF [172] Late-life depression Reduction in hippocampal volume [217,218] Specific reduction in left hippocampus [219] Volume reduction in orbitofrontal cortex, putamen and thalamus [217] Lower plasma BDNF [220] Familial recurrent MDD Smaller volume of the right hippocampus [221,222] Cumulative adversity (recurrent stressful life events)…”

A atividade da enzima Glicogênio Sintase Quinase 3 Beta (GSK-3B) em pacientes idosos com depressão maior: associação com parâmetros clínicos, psicopatológicos e cognitivos

“…Neste caso, a disfunção executiva observada nos pacientes com depressão de início tardio seria mediada principalmente por lesões de substância branca profunda em circuitos neuronais fronto-estriatais subcorticais (Herrmann et al, 2008). Já os déficits mais proeminentes em memória episódica recente nos pacientes com depressão de início precoce seria mediado principalmente por atrofia hipocampal (Janssen et al, 2007 Diversos estudos clínico-radiológicos posteriores confirmaram a associação entre doença cerebrovascular e a depressão de início tardio (Herrmann et al, 2008). A presença de lesões cerebrovasculares mostrou correlação com maior gravidade da sintomatologia depressiva (Bell-McGinty et al, 2002).…”

“…Na depressão de início precoce, as alterações estruturais mais comuns são a atrofia hipocampal bilateral (Janssen et al, 2007;Ballmeyer et al, 2008), o que sugere a existência de padrões fisiopatológicos distintos de acordo com a idade de início da doença depressiva.…”