Reduced Cortical Thickness in Patients with Late Life Depression without Cerebral Vascular Disease

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to compare cortical thickness in late life major depression patients without cerebral vascular disease (CVD) with that of non-depressed normal comparison subjects using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Altogether, 47 subjects were finally recruited from the Memory impairment clinics of Pusan National University Hospital in Korea. All subjects (late life major depression patients without CVD n=21, matched non-depressed normal comparison subjects: n=26) underwent 3-tesla MRI. RESULTS: Late life major depression patients without CVD showed reduced cortical thickness in left precuneus, left inferior temporal gyrus, and left cuneus compared with non-depressed normal comparison subjects. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that late life major depression without CVD is associated with reduced cortical thickness.