title: Mapping callosal morphology in early- and late-onset elderly depression: an index of distinct changes in cortical connectivity.
abstract: There is some evidence of corpus callosum abnormalities in elderly depression, but it is not known whether these deficits are region-specific or differ based on age at onset of depression. Twenty-four patients with early-onset depression (mean age = 68.00, SD+/-5.83), 22 patients with late-onset depression (mean age = 74.50, SD+/-8.09) and 34 elderly control subjects (mean age = 72.38; SD+/-6.93) were studied. Using 3D MRI data, novel mesh-based geometrical modeling methods were applied to compare the midsagittal thickness of the corpus callosum at high spatial resolution between groups. Neuropsychological correlates of midsagittal callosal area differences were additionally investigated in a subsample of subjects. Depressed patients exhibited significant callosal thinning in the genu and splenium compared to controls. Significant callosal thinning was restricted to the genu in early-onset patients, but patients with late-onset depression exhibited significant callosal thinning in both the genu and splenium relative to controls. The splenium of the corpus callosum was also significantly thinner in subjects with late- vs early-onset depression. Genu and splenium midsagittal areas significantly correlated with memory and attention functioning among late-onset depressed patients, but not early-onset depressed patients or controls. Circumscribed structural alterations in callosal morphology may distinguish late- from early-onset depression in the elderly. These findings suggest distinct abnormalities of cortical connectivity in late- and early-onset elderly depression with possible influence on the course of illness. Patients with a late onset of depression may be at higher risk of illness progression and eventually dementia conversion than early-onset depression, with potentially important implications for research and therapy.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité University Medicine, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany.
authors: Martina
authors: M
authors: Ballmaier
authors: Anand
authors: A
authors: Kumar
authors: Virginia
authors: V
authors: Elderkin-Thompson
authors: Katherine L
authors: KL
authors: Narr
authors: Eileen
authors: E
authors: Luders
authors: Paul M
authors: PM
authors: Thompson
authors: Cornelius
authors: C
authors: Hojatkashani
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Pham
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Heinz
authors: Arthur W
authors: AW
authors: Toga
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001931:Brain Mapping; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000473:pathology*; D003863:Depression / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
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