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Depression symptoms moderate the relationship between gray matter volumes and cognitive function in patients with

Yang Du1, Feng Yan1, Lu Zhao1

  • 1Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.

Journal of Psychiatric Research
|May 31, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Depression severity influences the link between brain structure and cognitive function in elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This study highlights the importance of addressing depressive symptoms in MCI patients for better cognitive outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Gerontology
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is associated with gray matter volume (GMV) changes and cognitive decline.
  • The impact of depressive symptoms on the relationship between GMV and cognitive function in MCI patients remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the associations among depressive symptoms, GMV, and cognitive function in elderly individuals.
  • To explore the moderating role of depressive symptoms on the relationship between structural brain changes and cognitive function in MCI patients.

Main Methods:

  • Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to compare GMV across 70 MCI patients with depressive symptoms (MCID), 70 MCI patients without depressive symptoms (MCIND), and 70 healthy controls (HCs).
  • Correlation and moderation analyses examined the relationship between GMV in specific brain regions and cognitive function, and the influence of depressive symptom severity.

Main Results:

  • MCIND patients showed decreased GMV in the bilateral fusiform gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus, and hippocampus compared to HCs.
  • MCID patients exhibited reduced GMV in the bilateral fusiform gyrus compared to MCIND patients.
  • Depressive symptom severity significantly moderated the positive correlation between GMV in abnormal brain regions and cognitive function.

Conclusions:

  • This study reveals distinct patterns of GMV reduction in MCIND and MCID patients, suggesting specific neural mechanisms related to depressive symptoms in MCID.
  • Depressive symptoms play a crucial moderating role in the association between brain structure and cognitive function in elderly MCI patients.
  • Clinical interventions targeting depressive symptoms are significant for managing cognitive function in elderly MCI patients.
Keywords:
Cognitive functionDepression symptomsGray matter volumeMild cognitive impairmentModerating effect

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