The Multi-Faceted Relationship between White Matter Lesions and Late-Life Depression

White matter lesions (WMLs), identified as hyperintensities (WMHs) on T2-weighted FLAIR MR brain images, are the most prominent MRI characteristic of vascular depression. The WMLs are thought to disrupt frontal-subcortical white matter tracts underlying emotion and cognition, and thus contribute to the development and course of late-life depression (LLD)1-5. WMHs are more prevalent and extensive in LLD than in non-depressed older adults.6-8 Among older adults with depression, greater WMHs are associated with greater depression severity,9 lower executive function,10 more persistent symptoms and poorer outcomes.
Source: The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry - Category: Geriatrics Authors: Tags: Invited Perspective Source Type: research