Link
between hippocampal volume and remission in
geriatic depression
Evidence
exists that structural brain changes occur in
depression, particularly geriatric depression,
and they could represent interesting biological
markers of treatment prognosis.
Sixty elderly depressed patients were enrolled
in a longitudinal study and treated with
antidepressants. Montgomery-Asberg Depression
Rating Scale (MADRS) scores were evaluated at
baseline and at 12 weeks. Magnetic magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans were carried
out at baseline to determine total cerebral
volume and right and left hippocampal
volumes.
A
comparison of the depressed geriatric patients
with the lowest quartile of standardised
hippocampal volumes to those above the highest
quartile showed that the patients with small
right and total hippocampal volumes were less
likely to achieve remission. A significance
relationship was also found when a logistic
regression model controlling for age was
used.
Although this study is preliminary, its findings
are interesting since hippocampal changes may be
cerabral markers of response to antidepressant
treatment. Further studies with larger patient
samples are, however, needed to determine if
differences in left-right hippocampal volume
exist. Further basic neuroscience studies will
be required to elucidate the exact role of the
hippocampus in geriatric depression.
Int
J Geriat Psychiatry 17: 519-525, 2002