Frontal dysfunction underlies depressive syndrome in Alzheimer disease: a FDG-PET study.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate the regional cerebral dysfunction associated with depressive syndrome in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD).


METHODS
Twelve patients with AD with depressive syndrome (ADD) and 12 age-, gender-, and severity-matched patients with AD without depressive syndrome (ADND) underwent FDG-PET scanning. The regional cerebral glucose metabolism in the two groups was compared using a voxel-based method.


RESULTS
The ADD group showed lower glucose metabolism in the right superior frontal gyrus than the ADND group.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that frontal dysfunction, known to be associated with primary or other secondary depressive syndromes, underlies the depressive syndrome of patients with AD patients as well.
Lee
Dong Young
DY
Department of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Choo
Il Han
IH
Jhoo
Jin Hyeong
JH
Kim
Ki Woong
KW
Youn
Jong Choul
JC
Lee
Dong Su
DS
Kang
Eun Joo
EJ
Lee
Jae Sung
JS
Kang
Won Jun
WJ
Woo
Jong In
JI
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18