title: Hippocampal morphology and distinguishing late-onset from early-onset elderly depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite evidence for hippocampal abnormalities in elderly depression, it is unknown whether these changes are regionally specific. This study used three-dimensional mapping techniques to identify regional hippocampal abnormalities in early- and late-onset depression. Neuropsychological correlates of hippocampal morphology were also investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  With high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging, hippocampal morphology was compared among elderly patients with early- (N=24) and late-onset (N=22) depression and comparison subjects (N=34). Regional structural abnormalities were identified by comparing distances, measured from homologous hippocampal surface points to the central core of each individual's hippocampal surface model, between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hippocampal volumes differed between depressed patients and comparison subjects but not between patients with early- and late-onset depression. However, statistical mapping results showed that regional surface contractions were significantly pronounced in late- compared to early-onset depression in the anterior of the subiculum and lateral posterior of the CA1 subfield in the left hemisphere. Significant shape differences were observed bilaterally in anterior CA1-CA3 subfields and the subiculum in patients in relation to comparison subjects. These results were similar when each disease group was separately compared to comparison subjects. Hippocampal surface contractions significantly correlated with memory measures among late- but not early-onset depressed patients or comparison subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More pronounced regional volume deficits and their associations with memory in late-onset depression may suggest that these patients are more likely to develop cognitive impairment over time than individuals with early-onset depression. Mapping regional hippocampal abnormalities and their cognitive correlates may help guide research in defining risk profiles and treatment strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité University Medicine, Campus Mitte, Berlin.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ballmaier
authors.forename: Katherine L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Narr
authors.forename: Arthur W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Toga
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Elderkin-Thompson
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Liberty
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Ebrahim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Haroon
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heinz
authors.forename: Anand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy / Q000473:pathology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012720:Severity of Illness Index