title: Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of late-life major depressive disorder.
abstract: The primary goal of this study was to examine the biochemical abnormalities of late-life major depression by using 3-tesla (3-T) proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS). The antidepressant effects on the biochemical abnormalities were investigated as well. Study participants were 27 elderly patients with major depressive disorders (among which 9 were on antidepressant medication) and 19 comparison elderly subjects. (1)H-MRS spectra were acquired from voxels that were placed in the left frontal white matter, left periventricular white matter, and left basal ganglia. Ratios of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline (Cho) and myo-inositol to creatine were calculated. Patients with late-life major depressive disorder had a significantly lower NAA/creatine ratio in the left frontal white matter, and higher Cho/creatine and myo-inositol/creatine ratios in the left basal ganglia when compared with the control subjects. The myo-inositol correlated with global cognitive function among the patients. The biochemical abnormalities in late-life major depressive disorder were found on the left side of the frontal white matter and the basal ganglia. Neuron degeneration in the frontal white matter and second messenger system dysfunction or glial dysfunction in the basal ganglia are suggested to be associated with late-life depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: I-Chan
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Chun-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wei-Chen
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chia-Ying
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Tsyh-Jyi
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Gin-Chung
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hsiu-Fen
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yu-Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Kuo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007294:Inositol / Q000378:metabolism*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D007294:Inositol; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine; D002794:Choline