Abstract
Background: Abnormalities have been identified in the Cognitive Control Network (CCN) and the Default Mode Network (DMN) during episodes of late-life depression. This study examined whether functional connectivity at rest (FC) within these networks characterizes late-life depression and predicts antidepressant response. Methods: 26 non-demented, non-MCI older adults were studied. Of these, 16 had major depression and 10 had no psychopathology. Depressed patients were treated with escitalopram (target dose 20 mg) for 12 weeks after a 2-week placebo phase. Resting state time series was determined prior to treatment. FC within the CCN was determined by placing seeds in the dACC and the DLPFC bilaterally. FC within the DMN was assessed from a seed placed in the posterior cingulate. Results: Low resting FC within the CCN and high resting FC within the DMN distinguished depressed from normal elderly subjects. Beyond this "double dissociation", low resting FC within the CCN predicted low remission rate and persistence of depressive symptoms and signs, apathy, and dysexecutive behavior after treatment with escitalopram. In contrast, resting FC within the DMN was correlated with pessimism but did not predict treatment response. Conclusions: If confirmed, these findings may serve as a signature of the brain's functional topography characterizing late-life depression and sustaining its symptoms. By identifying the network abnormalities underlying biologically meaningful characteristics (apathy, dysexecutive behavior, pessimism) and sustaining late-life depression, these findings can provide a novel target on which new somatic and psychosocial treatments can be tested.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 56-65 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Journal of Affective Disorders |
Volume | 139 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2012 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Personnel and imaging cost of this work was supported by NIMH grants R01 MH65653, R01 MH079414, P030 MH085943, T32 MH019132 (GSA), K23 MH74818 (FGD) and the Sanchez Foundation. Escitalopram and placebo were provided free of cost by Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Keywords
- Cognitive control network
- Default mode network
- Functional connectivity
- Geriatric depression