White-matter integrity predicts stroop performance in patients with geriatric depression.
BACKGROUND
This study tested the hypothesis that microstructural white matter abnormalities in frontostriatal-limbic tracts are associated with poor response inhibition on the Stroop task in depressed elders.


METHODS
Fifty-one elders with major depression participated in a 12-week escitalopram trial. Diffusion tensor imaging was used to determine fractional anisotropy (FA) in white matter regions. Executive function (response inhibition) was assessed with the Stroop task. Voxelwise correlational analysis was used to examine the relationship between Stroop performance and fractional anisotropy.


RESULTS
Significant associations between FA and Stroop color word interference were evident in multiple frontostriatal-limbic regions, including white matter lateral to the anterior and posterior cingulate cortex and white matter in prefrontal, insular, and parahippocampal regions.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that microstructural white matter abnormalities of frontostriatal-limbic networks are associated with executive dysfunction of late-life depression. This observation provides the rationale for examination of specific frontostriatal-limbic pathways in the pathophysiology of geriatric depression.
Murphy
Christopher F
CF
Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Neill Cornell Institute of Geriatric Psychiatry, White Plains, New York 10605, USA. cfm2001@med.cornell.edu
Gunning-Dixon
Faith M
FM
Hoptman
Matthew J
MJ
Lim
Kelvin O
KO
Ardekani
Babak
B
Shields
Jessica K
JK
Hrabe
Jan
J
Kanellopoulos
Dora
D
Shanmugham
Bindu R
BR
Alexopoulos
George S
GS
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016880:Anisotropy; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001931:Brain Mapping; D015283:Citalopram / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D015283:Citalopram