Correlation between cerebellar metabolism and post-stroke depression in patients with ischemic stroke

The neurochemical changes that occur in the brain of patients with post-stroke depression (PSD) are not fully understood. This study aims to explore the correlation between cerebellar metabolism changes and PSD using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-MRS). Participants were assigned to 3 groups: 60 patients with PSD (PSD group), 60 stroke patients without depression (NOPSD group), and 60 healthy volunteers (HEAL group). T1 WI, T2 WI, DWI and ¹H-MRS examination were performed for patients at 14 days, 3 months after the stroke, respectively, and for healthy volunteers once when included in the study. Cho/Cr and Cho/NAA ratios in the cerebellar hemisphere contralateral to the lesion were higher in the PSD group than those in the HEAL and NOPSD groups on 14th day after the stroke (P < 0.05). In PSD group, Cho/Cr and Cho/NAA ratios in the cerebellar hemisphere contralateral to the lesion were positively correlated to the HAMD scale scores at both 14 days and 3 months after stroke (P < 0.05); Higher Cho/Cr and Cho/NAA ratios, and lower NAA/Cr ratio in the cerebellar hemisphere contralateral to the lesion were observed at 3 months after stroke compared to that at 14 days after stroke. Cerebellar damage may lead to PSD, and the degree of cerebellar damage may be associated with severity of PSD.