title: Caudate nucleus volumes and genetic determinants of homocysteine metabolism in the prediction of psychomotor speed in older persons with depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors sought to determine whether caudate nucleus volumes or specific genotypes predict psychomotor slowing in older persons with depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven persons with depression (mean age=51.8 years, SD=12.4) and 20 healthy volunteers (mean age=56.1 years, SD=9.8) underwent clinical assessments, a neuropsychological test of psychomotor speed (part A of the Trail Making Test), high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging scans, and genotyping for the apolipoprotein E epsilon4 allele and a mutation of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase enzyme.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariate analyses revealed that psychomotor speed was uniquely predicted by age, a diagnosis of depression, right caudate nucleus volume, and mutation of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase enzyme.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychomotor slowing, a key clinical and cognitive phenomenon in older persons with depression, is predicted by reduced caudate nucleus volumes and genetic determinants of homocysteine metabolism.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, PO Box 1, Rozelle NSW 2039, Sydney, Australia. Sharon_Naismith@wsahs.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naismith
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hickie
authors.forename: Philip B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Keelin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Little
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000378:metabolism; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D000587:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors / Q000378:metabolism; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D006710:Homocysteine; D000587:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)