The Study of White Matter Hyperintensity (WMH) and Factors Related to Geriatric Late-Onset Depression

Geriatric depression is one of the most common and harmful mental illnesses seen in the elderly. However, there are few studies focusing on the relationship between late-onset depression (LOD) and social and psychological factors, as well as brain structure.

To explore factors related to late-onset depression (LOD) in elderly patients.

24 first onset LOD patients over 60 years old (meeting ICD-10 diagnostic criteria for depression) and 23 non-depressed elders were selected for inclusion into this study. Scale assessments, including Fazelasscale for white matter hyperintensity (WMH) high signal level and the MTA-scale for medial temporal lobe atrophy levels, were combined with general demography and sociology data to find factors related to LOD.

There was no significant difference in age (t=0.419, p=0.678), gender (X²=1.705, p=0.244), or years of education (t=1.478, p=0.146) between the two groups. However, statistical differences were shown on scores on the WMH, (X²=7.817, p=0.008), periventricular white matter hyperintensity (PWMH)(Fisher exact test: p=0.031), having or not having religious beliefs (Fisher exact test: p=0.265) and family harmony (yes or no) (Fisher exact test: p=0.253) between the LOD group and control group. The results of linear regression analysis showed that the total score for WMH, religious beliefs (with or without) and family harmony (yes or no) were associated with depressive symptomology.

Scores on the WMH, religious beliefs and family harmony are all potentially related to LOD in elderly patients.