Cognition and white matter hyperintensities in older depressed patients.

摘要: Objective: The authors compared amounts ofwhite matter hyperintensity in late- and earlyonset depressed patients never-depressed older subjects, neuropsychological f unction these groups, investigated the association between white hyperintensities cognitive function depression. Method: Sixty currently whose irst depression occurred after age 50 years, 35 over first before 35, 1 65 nonpsychiatrically ill subjects underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation. Areas of were measured from MRI images. Results: late-onset had more than either other groups. Compared to nondepressed significantly lower scores domains nonverbal intelligence, memory, constructional ability, executive information processing speed. abnormalities mostly confined patients, presence a large amount was associated with poorer skills. However, most ofthe not impaired range. Conclusions: Large are requent elderly early-onset or no Both show mild decrements some “right hemisphere “ skills; also deterioration formation speed functions. Patients have function. (AmJ Psychiatry 1996; 153:1280-1287)