Association of white matter integrity of the whole brain and cognitive deficits in remitted geriatric depression

Abstract

Objective To investigate whether abnormalities were present in the whole white matter in patients with remitted geriatric depression (RGD) by diffusion tensor imaging, and the relationship between white matter integrity and cognitive impairment. Methods Sixteen remitted geriatric depression patients and 14 well-matched healthy controls had diffusion tensor imaging scans of MRI, which were analyzed by a rigorous voxel-baeed approach. The RGD patients and healthy controls received a cognitive battery using standardized administration. Results The fractional anisotropy in white matter of patients was lower than that of controls in the right superior frontal gyms, left inferior frontal gyyrus, left middle temporal gyrus, right inferior parietal lobule, right middle occipital gyrtts, left lingual gyms, right putamen and right caudate. There were significant differences in the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test delayed recall score,Trail Making Test A and B (seconds) between two groups (P<0.001, P<0.05 and P<0.05, respectively). And a significant negative correlation between the mean FA values of right superior frontal gyms and the Trail Making Test B Score (seconds) (r=-0.556, P=0.049) in patients with RGD. Conclusion The results susgested that white matter integrity of the whole brain is disrupted in patients with remitted geriatric depression, and the abnormalities are perhaps involved in the psychopathology and pathophysiology of cognitive impairment. Key words: Depressive disorder; Aged; Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging; Neuropsychological tests; Anisotropy