Depression linked to smaller volume in key memory region of older adults
Researchers from the USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute (Stevens INI) at the Keck School of Medicine of USC have found that depression is associated with smaller volume in a specific part of the hippocampus, a brain region essential for learning and memory.
Researchers from the USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute have discovered that depression is linked to smaller volumes in a specific region of the hippocampus, a crucial brain area for learning and memory. This study, published in Translational Psychiatry, analyzed high-resolution brain scans from 2,009 cognitively healthy adults aged 50 to 90.
The hippocampus, often discussed as a single region, is actually composed of several subfields that function differently and may respond uniquely to aging, depression, and neurological diseases. By focusing on individual subfields, the researchers identified a particular part, the CA23DG, which plays a vital role in retrieving memories and distinguishing between similar experiences.
This part showed a reduced volume in participants with depression, even after accounting for factors like body mass index, physical activity, and Alzheimer's disease risk indicators such as amyloid and tau proteins, as well as the APOE ε4 genetic variant. Depression has been associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, but the biological connection between the two remains unclear.
The study's lead author, Ph.D. student Danielle Luu, explained that the findings reveal a specific area of the hippocampus that may be particularly sensitive to depression in older adults. The hippocampus is vital for forming and retrieving memories, with distinct subfields contributing differently to these processes. Understanding these differences can help identify individuals at risk, clarify the pathways connecting depression and dementia, and potentially lead to personalized approaches for preserving brain health.
However, the researchers caution that these findings should not influence decisions about antidepressant use, as the study did not directly link medication to the observed brain volume differences. Long-term studies tracking participants before and after treatment are necessary to fully understand the relationship between antidepressants, depression, and hippocampal volume.
Written by urgent.news from Medical Xpress's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
