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Updated: Nov 16, 2025
Standardized Data Acquisition for Neuromelanin-Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Substantia Nigra
Published on: September 8, 2021
Myelin deficits in patients with recurrent major depressive disorder: An inhomogeneous magnetization transfer study
Gangqiang Hou1, Wentao Lai1, Wentao Jiang1
1Department of Radiology, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, 518020, China.
Purposes:
The recently developed myelin imaging method, inhomogeneous magnetization transfer (ihMT), is a surrogate measure of myelin content. The goal of the current study was to investigate alterations in myelin integrity in patients with recurrent major depressive disorder (rMDD).
Methods:
Fifty-two patients with rMDD (36 female and 16 male) and 42 healthy controls (HC, 29 female and 13 male) were included. Two ihMT indices, quantitative ihMT (qihMT) and quantitative MT (qMT), were estimated from the ihMT data. A 50 white matter atlas was used to extract the regional quantitative values for each subject. The differences in qihMT and qMT values between the rMDD and HC groups were compared by a general linear model. Pearson correlation analyses were conducted to investigate associations between the significantly altered ihMT indices and clinical measures (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores and disease duration) in rMDD group.
Results:
The rMDD group showed significantly lower qihMT values in the fornix, left anterior limb of internal capsule, and left sagittal stratum, and lower qMT values in the fornix and left anterior limb of internal capsule than those of the HC group (p < 0.05, false discovery rate corrected). Both the qihMT and qMT values in the fornix of patients with rMDD were negatively correlated with disease duration (qihMT: r = -0.478, p < 0.001, Bonferroni corrected; qMT: r = -0.433, p = 0.001, Bonferroni corrected).
Conclusion:
Our findings suggested that rMDD is associated with myelin impairment in the fornix, left anterior limb of internal capsule, and left sagittal stratum. In addition, this disruption of myelin integrity in the fornix could be cumulative as the disease progresses.
Insights
Recurrent major depressive disorder (rMDD) is linked to myelin damage in specific brain regions. This myelin impairment, particularly in the fornix, may worsen over time with disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neuroscience
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Myelin imaging using inhomogeneous magnetization transfer (ihMT) offers a novel way to assess myelin content.
- Alterations in myelin integrity are increasingly implicated in various neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate myelin integrity in patients with recurrent major depressive disorder (rMDD) using ihMT.
- To explore the relationship between myelin alterations and clinical factors in rMDD.
Main Methods:
- Compared ihMT indices (qihMT, qMT) between 52 rMDD patients and 42 healthy controls (HC).
- Utilized a white matter atlas to extract regional quantitative values.
- Employed general linear models for group comparisons and Pearson correlations for clinical associations.
Main Results:
- Patients with rMDD exhibited significantly lower qihMT in the fornix, left anterior limb of internal capsule, and left sagittal stratum.
- Lower qMT values were observed in the fornix and left anterior limb of internal capsule in the rMDD group compared to HC.
- Myelin integrity in the fornix negatively correlated with disease duration in rMDD patients.
Conclusions:
- rMDD is associated with impaired myelin integrity in key white matter tracts, including the fornix.
- The findings suggest that myelin disruption in the fornix may be a progressive feature of rMDD.
- ihMT imaging provides valuable insights into the neurobiological underpinnings of rMDD.
