Decreased between-hemisphere connectivity strength and network efficiency in geriatric depression
Xuesong Li1, David C Steffens2, Guy G Potter3
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Human Brain Mapping
|August 10, 2016
Summary
Geriatric depression patients in remission show reduced white matter connectivity between brain hemispheres. Multiple depressive episodes worsen this connectivity, impacting cognitive functions like memory and processing speed.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Geriatric Psychiatry
- Computational Neuroscience
Background:
- White matter (WM) lesions are implicated in geriatric depression.
- Limited understanding of WM topological patterns in remitted geriatric depression (RGD).
- Relationship between WM changes and depressive episode history is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate WM topological pattern changes in RGD.
- Examine the association between WM alterations and depressive episode frequency.
- Assess the longitudinal stability of WM network properties in RGD.
Main Methods:
- Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in 24 RGD and 24 healthy controls.
- Graph theoretical analysis for between-hemisphere connectivity.
- 1-year follow-up for network property changes.
Main Results:
- RGD group exhibited reduced left-right hemisphere WM connectivity.
- Increased depressive episodes correlated with greater connectivity reduction.
- RGD showed altered global network metrics (clustering, efficiency, strength, path length).
- Reduced clustering correlated with poorer memory; network changes linked to slower processing speed.
- WM network properties showed significant instability at 1-year follow-up.
Conclusions:
- Geriatric depression is associated with reduced inter-hemispheric WM connectivity.
- WM network alterations in RGD are linked to cognitive deficits.
- WM network properties in RGD are unstable over time, suggesting ongoing pathological processes.
Keywords:
between-hemisphere connectivitycognitive functiondepression episodesdiffusion tensor imaginggeriatric depressiongraph theoryMore Related Videos
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