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Apathy in depression: An arterial spin labeling perfusion MRI study
J M Batail1, I Corouge2, B Combès2
1Centre Hospitalier Guillaume Régnier, Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire de Psychiatrie Adulte, F-35703, Rennes, France; Univ Rennes, Inria, CNRS, IRISA, INSERM, Empenn U1228 ERL, F-35042, Rennes, France; Univ Rennes, "Comportement et noyaux gris centraux" Research Unit (EA 4712), F-35000, Rennes, France.
Journal of Psychiatric Research
|November 25, 2022
Summary
Reduced blood flow in the left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is linked to apathy severity in depression. This finding highlights the ACC
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Psychiatry
- Cerebrovascular Physiology
Background:
- Apathy, a deficit in goal-directed behaviors, significantly impairs patients with depression.
- Cerebral perfusion specificities in depression-related apathy remain poorly understood.
- Neurovascular mechanisms underlying apathy require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the neurovascular mechanisms of apathy in depression.
- To investigate cerebral blood flow (CBF) patterns associated with apathy using pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) MRI.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 90 depressed patients.
- Utilized pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) MRI and 3D T1-weighted imaging.
- Multiple regression analysis correlated CBF in regions of interest with Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES) scores.
Main Results:
- A significant negative relationship was found between CBF in the left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and AES scores (standardized beta = -0.74, p = 0.0008) after adjustments.
- The left ACC showed a strong association with apathy severity.
Conclusions:
- The left ACC is a key region implicated in the severity of apathy in depressed individuals.
- Perfusion correlates of apathy in depression may help characterize distinct depression phenotypes.
