title: Positron emission tomography molecular imaging in late-life depression.
abstract: Molecular imaging represents a bridge between basic and clinical neuroscience observations and provides many opportunities for translation and identifying mechanisms that may inform prevention and intervention strategies in late-life depression (LLD). Substantial advances in instrumentation and radiotracer chemistry have resulted in improved sensitivity and spatial resolution and the ability to study in vivo an increasing number of neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, and, importantly, neuropathological processes. Molecular brain imaging studies in LLD will be reviewed, with a primary focus on positron emission tomography. Future directions for the field of molecular imaging in LLD will be discussed, including integrating molecular imaging with genetic, neuropsychiatric, and cognitive outcomes and multimodality neuroimaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirao
authors.forename: Gwenn S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D017668:Age of Onset; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003863:Depression / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D059906:Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D000109:Acetylcholine; D004298:Dopamine
keywords: acetylcholine; depression; dopamine; molecular imaging; positron emission tomography; serotonin