Negative Affectivity, Aging, and Depression: Results From the Neurobiology of Late-Life Depression (NBOLD) Study

Abstract

Objectives Neuroticism is a common yet understudied condition in older adults. We hypothesized that presence of high Negativity Affectivity (NA), a key feature of neuroticism, would be associated with different prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity and connectivity patterns in depressed and never-depressed older adults. Design Baseline cross-sectional analysis of a cohort study. Participants Fifty-two depressed and 36 never-depressed older adults. Measurements Assessments included Negative Affectivity scores from the Type D Scale-14 (DS-14) and Montgomery-Ǻsberg Depression Rating Scale scores. All subjects had a 3T brain functional magnetic resonance imaging resting scan, neuronal activity was determined by Amplitude of Low-Frequency Fluctuations (ALFF) were obtained, and resting state functional connectivity (FC) analyses were performed. ANCOVA analyses were conducted on ALFF and FC to examine significant differences between groups. Results In the analyses on ALFF, there were clearly different patterns between depressed and comparison groups in the correlation of ALFF and NA. The correlation differences between the two groups were significant in the dorsomedial PFC, insula, amygdala and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). FC analyses revealed different between-group connectivity patterns. Significantly higher ventromedial PFC-amygdala FC with NA correlation was found in the depressed group than that in the never-depressed group. Conclusion This study confirms differential activity of the dorsal and ventral regions of the medial prefrontal cortex in individuals with high neuroticism. Our findings suggest increased rostral medial PFC activity may be a marker of resilience to depression in the elderly and decreased anterior ventromedial PFC/PCC/amygdala activity may be a result of successful emotion regulation in never-depressed higher NA individuals.

The role of the arcuate and middle longitudinal fasciculi in speech perception in noise in adulthood

“…Yet, given its connectivity, it is likely that MdLF has a role in cognition even if not as a principle pathway, as suggested byBurks et al (Burks et al, 2017). In support of this notion, a recent study reported a correlation between poor attention and the microstructure of MdLF in patients with schizophrenia, suggesting a role for the MdLF in attention(Steffens et al, 2017). In support of this notion, a recent study reported a correlation between poor attention and the microstructure of MdLF in patients with schizophrenia, suggesting a role for the MdLF in attention(Steffens et al, 2017).…”

“…Indeed, it has been reported that electrostimulation of this fascicle does not elicit semantic paraphasias, and that electrostimulation and resection of the anterior part of MdLF have no impact on picture naming (De Witt Hamer, Moritz-Gasser, Gatignol, & Duffau, 2010). It has been proposed that based on its connectivity, the MdLF could play a role in audiovisual integration (Wang et al, 2013) or attention (Steffens, Wang, Manning, & Pearlson, 2017). For example, a correlation was found between poor attention and the microstructure of MdLF in patients with schizophrenia, suggesting a role for the MdLF in attention (Steffens et al, 2017).…”

“…It has been proposed that based on its connectivity, the MdLF could play a role in audiovisual integration (Wang et al, 2013) or attention (Steffens, Wang, Manning, & Pearlson, 2017). For example, a correlation was found between poor attention and the microstructure of MdLF in patients with schizophrenia, suggesting a role for the MdLF in attention (Steffens et al, 2017). No study has investigated the changes that occur in the MdLF in normal aging, yet this could contribute to understanding its roles.…”

“…It was recently proposed that the MdLF is divided into two components: a ventral segment linking the inferior parietal lobule (IPL) to the temporal pole and a more caudal segment linking the superior parietal lobule (SPL) to the temporal pole Makris, Preti, Asami, et al, 2013). It has been proposed that based on its connectivity, the MdLF could play a role in audiovisual integration (Wang et al, 2013) or attention (Steffens, Wang, Manning, & Pearlson, 2017). Indeed, it has been reported that electrostimulation of this fascicle does not elicit semantic paraphasias, and that electrostimulation and resection of the anterior part of MdLF have no impact on picture naming (De Witt Hamer, Moritz-Gasser, Gatignol, & Duffau, 2010).…”

“…Though sometimes seen as forming part of the ventral language streams (Saur et al, 2008), involved in mapping auditory speech sounds to meaning, the specific role of the two MdLF segments remains unclear. For example, a correlation was found between poor attention and the microstructure of MdLF in patients with schizophrenia, suggesting a role for the MdLF in attention (Steffens et al, 2017). It has been proposed that based on its connectivity, the MdLF could play a role in audiovisual integration (Wang et al, 2013) or attention (Steffens, Wang, Manning, & Pearlson, 2017).…”