Study of white matter microstructural abnormalities in late-life depression by MR-diffusion tensor imaging

Objective To evaluate with diffusion tensor imaging(DTI) the location white matter is damaged in late-life depression,and to determine the relationship between the extent of the damage and clinical data.Methods Thirty-one patients with late-life depression and fifteen healthy volunteers received MR diffusion tensor scanning.The fractional anisotropy(FA) values of white matter were measured respectively in frontal,temporal,corpus callosum.Results FA values significantly decreased in temporal(right hippocampal gyrus) and frontal(superior and middle frontal gyrus) of the geriatric depression patients than comparison subjects(P0.05).There was no correlations between decreased FA values and clinical data.Conclusion Microstructural changes in the matter of dorsolateral prefrontal and temporal(right hippocampal gyrus)are associated with late-life depression.