Structural integrity of the uncinate fasciculus in geriatric depression: relationship with age of onset

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Publication Type pre-print
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Creator Gerig, Guido
Other Author Taylor, Warren D.; MacFall, James R.; Krishnan, Ranga R.
Title Structural integrity of the uncinate fasciculus in geriatric depression: relationship with age of onset
Date 2007-01-01
Description Background: The uncinate fasciculus connects limbic structures, such as the hippocampus and amygdala, with frontal regions. This study utilized diffusion tensor imaging to examine the structural integrity of the uncinate fasciculus in late-life depression. Method: 18 elderly depressed and 19 elderly nondepressed subjects were matched for age and sex; 8 subjects had mid- to late-onset of depression while 10 subjects had early-onset depression. 3T diffusion tensor imaging-based fiber tract mapping delineated the uncinate fasciculus in each hemisphere, which guided measurement of the fractional anisotropy of the uncinate fasciculus in the temporal stem. After controlling for age and sex, differences between diagnostic groups were assessed. Results: After controlling for age and sex, individuals with early onset depression exhibited lower anisotropy of the left uncinate fasciculus than did mid- and late-onset or nondepressed subjects (F2,36 = 4.50, p = 0.02). Analyses of the right uncinate fasciculus were not statistically significant. Conclusions: This provides preliminary evidence that there is a structural connectivity deficit between left frontal and limbic structures in early-onset depression. Further work is needed to determine if this is seen in younger depressed subjects, and if it influences treatment outcomes.
Type Text
Publisher Dove Medical Press
Volume 3
Issue 5
First Page 669
Last Page 674
Language eng
Bibliographic Citation Taylor, W. D., MacFall, J. R., Gerig, G., & Krishnan, R. R. (2007). Structural integrity of the uncinate fasciculus in geriatric depression: relationship with age of onset. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 3(5), 669-74.
Rights Management (c)Dove Medical Press; Author Guido Gerig
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 133,199 bytes
Identifier uspace,19265
ARK ark:/87278/s6zw4w2b
Setname ir_uspace
ID 712843
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6zw4w2b
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