Thalamic abnormalities in older adults with remitted early-onset depression using structural magnetic resonance imaging

Nicole Espinosa; Shantel L Duffy; Haley M LaMonica; Loren Mowszowski; Ian B Hickie; Jake R Palmer; Sharon L Naismith; Andrew C McKinnon

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.12.067

Thalamic abnormalities in older adults with remitted early-onset depression using structural magnetic resonance imaging

J Affect Disord. 2022 Mar 1:300:150-157. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.12.067. Epub 2021 Dec 21.

Authors

Nicole Espinosa¹, Shantel L Duffy¹, Haley M LaMonica², Loren Mowszowski³, Ian B Hickie⁴, Jake R Palmer³, Sharon L Naismith⁵, Andrew C McKinnon⁶

Affiliations

¹ Healthy Brain Ageing Program, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, 100 Mallett St, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.
² Healthy Brain Ageing Program, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, 100 Mallett St, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia; Youth Mental Health Team, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
³ School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney NSW, Australia; Healthy Brain Ageing Program, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, 100 Mallett St, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.
⁴ Youth Mental Health Team, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
⁵ School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney NSW, Australia; Healthy Brain Ageing Program, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, 100 Mallett St, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.
⁶ School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney NSW, Australia; Healthy Brain Ageing Program, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, 100 Mallett St, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia. Electronic address: andrew.mckinnon@sydney.edu.au.

PMID: 34942221
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.12.067

Abstract

Background: The thalamus is a key diencephalic structure involved in major depressive disorder (MDD). Studies have consistently revealed abnormalities in thalamic volumes in older adults with late-onset depression (LOD), however abnormalities in older adults with early-onset depression (EOD) have not yet been well-studied.

Methods: Fifty-nine euthymic participants with a history of EOD and fifty-nine matched comparison participants without a lifetime history of depression underwent neuroimaging, medical and neuropsychological assessments. Thalamic volumes were compared between groups. To investigate the previously-proposed right hemispheric (RH) dominance theory of MDD, we explored the bilateral, right and left hemispheric (LH) thalamic volumes. Multiple regression analyses were used to evaluate between-group and within-group effects. Correlational analyses examined associations between group and cognitive performance.

Results: Relative to the comparison group, those with EOD had significantly larger bilateral, LH and RH thalamic volumes. Those with EOD, those who were younger, and those who had fewer years of education demonstrated larger bilateral and LH thalamic volumes. For RH thalamic volumes, those with EOD and those who were younger demonstrated larger RH thalamic volumes. EOD within-group models were also run to assess associations between relevant depression variables. The results showed that only age was significant for bilateral and RH thalamic volumes. For the LH thalamic volumes, the model was not significant. No significant correlations were found between cognitive performance and EOD groups.

Conclusion: Older adults with a history of EOD showed significantly larger bilateral, RH and LH thalamic volumes. Further research is needed to delineate potential underlying mechanisms of this change.

Keywords: Ageing; Early-onset depression; Magnetic resonance imaging; Neuroimaging; Thalamus.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Age of Onset
Aged
Depression
Depressive Disorder, Major* / psychology
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
Neuropsychological Tests