Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026
12:30
A Comprehensive Protocol for Manual Segmentation of the Medial Temporal Lobe Structures
Published on: July 2, 2014
Effect of temporal lobe structure volume on memory in elderly depressed patients
Renata Avila1, Salma Ribeiz, Fábio L S Duran
1Projeto Terceira Idade (PROTER, Old Age Research Group), Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-010, Brazil. avilarenata@uol.com.br
Neurobiology of Aging
|December 25, 2009
Summary
Elderly depression shows unique links between medial temporal lobe volumes and memory performance, suggesting depression may be a dementia risk factor. Hippocampal and parahippocampal gyrus volumes correlated with memory scores in depressed individuals.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Depression is prevalent in elderly populations.
- Medial temporal lobe structures like the hippocampus are crucial for memory.
- Age-related changes in these structures may be exacerbated by depression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare hippocampal and parahippocampal gyrus volumes in elderly individuals with and without depression.
- To investigate the correlation between these brain region volumes and memory test performance.
Main Methods:
- Structural MRI scans analyzed using voxel-based morphometry.
- 48 elderly patients with depressive disorders and 31 healthy controls.
- Cognitive tests assessing memory and learning were administered.
Main Results:
- No significant gray matter volume differences in the hippocampus or parahippocampal gyrus between groups.
- In depressed individuals, left parahippocampal gyrus volume correlated with delayed naming scores.
- Depressed subjects showed correlations between medial temporal lobe volumes and immediate recall/visual learning scores.
Conclusions:
- Depression in the elderly is associated with distinct relationships between medial temporal lobe volumes and cognitive function.
- The correlation between left parahippocampal volume and delayed memory recall in depressed elderly individuals supports depression as a potential dementia risk factor.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Role of Hippocampus in Memory
The hippocampus, a critical brain structure, plays an essential role in memory processing, particularly in the formation and retrieval of memory. This small, seahorse-shaped region is located within the medial temporal lobe, with one hippocampus in each brain hemisphere. Experimental studies involving lesions in the hippocampi of rats have demonstrated significant impairments in tasks such as object recognition and maze navigation, indicating the hippocampus involvement in both recognition and...
01:03Long-term Depression
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...
01:05Long-term Depression
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
01:23Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Alzheimer disease involves structural changes in the brain that begin long before symptoms appear. The most distinctive features are extracellular neuritic plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles.Neuritic plaques form in the cerebral cortex and around blood vessels. These plaques contain a dense core of beta-amyloid (Aβ)—a toxic protein fragment that clumps outside neurons. The core is surrounded by damaged neuronal extensions, as well as reactive astrocytes and microglia. Abnormal...
01:22Dementia l: Introduction
Dementia is an acquired, progressive syndrome characterized by a decline in multiple cognitive domains severe enough to impair daily functioning and reduce independence. Although memory loss is a central feature, the diagnosis requires additional deficits involving language, executive function, visuospatial skills, judgment, calculation, or abstract reasoning. These cognitive impairments reflect underlying neurodegenerative or vascular processes that gradually disrupt neuronal networks...