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BOLD activation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex in patients with late life depression and comparison participants

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 May 2017

Akshya Vasudev Open the ORCID record for Akshya Vasudev [Opens in a new window] ,
Michael J. Firbank ,
Joseph S. Gati ,
Emily Ionson  and
Alan J. Thomas
Akshya Vasudev*
Affiliation:
Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
Michael J. Firbank
Affiliation:
Institute of Neuroscience and Newcastle University Institute for Ageing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Joseph S. Gati
Affiliation:
Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
Emily Ionson
Affiliation:
Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
Alan J. Thomas
Affiliation:
Institute of Neuroscience and Newcastle University Institute for Ageing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr Akshya Vasudev, #A2-607, Victoria Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, 800 Commissioners Road East, London, Ontario, Canada. Phone: 1 519 667 6693; Fax: 1 519 667 6707. Email: akshya.vasudev@uwo.ca.
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Abstract

The ventromedial prefrontal cortex's (vMPFC) role in regulating emotions in late life depression (LLD) remains unclarified. We assessed vMPFC activation in an emotional valence blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic neuroimaging (fMRI) task and related the findings to extent of white matter hyperintensities (WMH). Sixteen participants with mild to moderate LLD were compared to 14 similar aged comparison participants. Participants in the scanner viewed words matched for length and arousal, indicated the perceived valence by pressing one of the three buttons i.e. “positive, negative, or neutral.” WMH volume was greater in LLD participants than comparison participants. There were no differences in activations between groups to any valence contrast. Female LLD participants showed greater activation for negative versus positive and negative versus neutral words as compared to female comparison participants. Female LLD participants respond differently to emotionally laden words compared to comparison participants. WMH could play a role in etiopathology of emotional perception in female LLD participants.

Keywords

late life depressionBOLDfunctional MRIwhite matter hyperintensities
Type
Brief Report
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 30 , Issue 5: Issue Theme: Brain Imaging , May 2018 , pp. 629 - 634
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2017 

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