Neuroscience 2000 Abstract
Presentation Number: | 495.4 |
---|---|
Abstract Title: | Autonomous pathways to late-life major depressive disorder identified using a path analytic approach. |
Authors: |
Kumar, A.*1
; Mintz, J.1
; Bilker, W.1
; Gottlieb, G.1
1Neuropsychiatric Institute, UCLA School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, |
Primary Theme and Topics |
J. Disorders of the Nervous System and Aging - 140. Neuropsychiatric disorders |
Secondary Theme and Topics | J. Disorders of the Nervous System and Aging<br />- 148. Aging |
Session: |
495. Neuropsychiatric disorders I Slide |
Presentation Time: | Tuesday, November 7, 2000 1:45 PM-2:00 PM |
Location: | Room 287 |
Keywords: | Disorder in the Elderly, Neuroanatomical, Medical Comorbidity, Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
Although neuroanatomical abnormalities have been identified in major depressive disorder in the elderly (Late-Life MDD), the pathways by which the underlying structural changes and medical disorders may lead to MDD remain largely unknown. The objective of our study was to further elucidate distinct paths to depression by integrating age, measures of medical comorbidity, neuroanatomical compromise and cognitive status in a sample of patients with Late-Life MDD and non-depressed controls. Our study was cross-sectional in nature and utilized both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) determined quantitative neuroanatomic measures and clinical indices of cerebrovascular and overall medical comorbidity. The study samples were comprised of 51 patients with MDD and 30 controls. Patients were recruited from the inpatient and ambulatory care programs in geriatric psychiatry at a University Hospital. Patients and controls had overlapping medical comorbidity. Estimates of frontal lobe volume and volumes of high intensity lesions were obtained using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), together with clinical measures of overall medical and cerebrovascular burden. A structural covariance model was used to test pathways to MDD. Our data indicate that there are two autonomous paths to MDD; One path is represented by vascular and non-vascular medical comorbidity that contributes to brain lesions that lead to depression. Atrophy represents a distinct path to the mood disorder. Age increased both atrophy and overall medical comorbidity, but had no direct impact on MDD. These findings have broad implications for the pathophysiology of MDD.
Supported by NIMH grant MH 55115 (AK); NIMH grant MH 52129 (Clinical Research Center for Depression in Late-Life)
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2000 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. New Orleans, LA: Society for Neuroscience, 2000. Online.
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