Influence of age of onset on limbic and paralimbic structures in depression.
OBJECTIVE
Major depressive disorder (MDD) onset during childhood/adolescence is associated with a greater illness burden and distinct clinical profile. However, limited research exists on the effect of age of MDD onset on volumetric abnormalities in para/limbic structures during adulthood.


METHODS
Subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC), hippocampus and caudate nucleus volumes were measured by manual tracing in depressed individuals (n = 45) and healthy controls (HC; n = 19). Volumetric comparisons were carried out between HC and MDD patients divided into those with pediatric (≤ 18 years; n = 17) and adult onset (≥ 19 years; n = 28).


RESULTS
The adult MDD-onset group had smaller sgACC volumes than the pediatric-onset and HC groups (age, sex controlled). No differences in caudate and hippocampus volumes existed. sgACC and hippocampal volumes were inversely correlated with depression severity.


CONCLUSIONS
Surprisingly, pediatric MDD-onset was not associated with more pronounced sgACC, hippocampus and caudate volume reductions. Nevertheless, age of illness onset appears to be a meaningful dimension of study in efforts to understand the neurobiological heterogeneity of MDD.
Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.|Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, Canada.|Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Canada.
Natalia
N
Jaworska
Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.|Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.|Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, Canada.|Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Canada.
Frank P
FP
MacMaster
Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
Xiao-Ru
XR
Yang
Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.|Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, Canada.|Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Canada.
Allegra
A
Courtright
Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
Sarah
S
Pradhan
Seaman Family Centre, Calgary, Canada.
Ismael
I
Gaxiola
Seaman Family Centre, Calgary, Canada.
Filomeno
F
Cortese
Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.|Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.|Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, Canada.|Seaman Family Centre, Calgary, Canada.
Bradley
B
Goodyear
Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.|Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.|Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, Canada.|Seaman Family Centre, Calgary, Canada.
Rajamannar
R
Ramasubbu
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000473:pathology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000473:pathology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
caudate; depression; hippocampus; onset age; subgenual anterior cingulate cortex