Cortical glutamate, Glx, and total N-acetylaspartate: potential biomarkers of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment response and outcomes in major depression

Abstract

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an effective treatment for individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) who have not improved with standard therapies. However, only 30-45% of patients respond to rTMS. Predicting response to rTMS will benefit both patients and providers in terms of prescribing and targeting treatment for maximum efficacy and directing resources, as individuals with lower likelihood of response could be redirected to more suitable treatment alternatives. In this exploratory study, our goal was to use proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to examine how glutamate (Glu), Glx, and total N-acetylaspartate (tNAA) predict post-rTMS changes in overall MDD severity and symptoms, and treatment response. Metabolites were measured in a right dorsal anterior cingulate cortex voxel prior to a standard course of 10 Hz rTMS to the left DLPFC in 25 individuals with MDD. MDD severity and symptoms were evaluated via the Inventory of Depression Symptomatology Self-Report (IDS-SR). rTMS response was defined as ≥50% change in full-scale IDS-SR scores post treatment. Percent change in IDS-SR symptom domains were evaluated using principal component analysis and established subscales. Generalized linear and logistic regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between baseline Glu, Glx, and tNAA and outcomes while controlling for age and sex. Participants with baseline Glu and Glx levels in the lower range had greater percent change in full scale IDS-SR scores post-treatment (p < 0.001), as did tNAA (p = 0.007). Low glutamatergic metabolite levels also predicted greater percent change in mood/cognition symptoms (p ≤ 0.001). Low-range Glu, Glx, and tNAA were associated with greater improvement on the immuno-metabolic subscale (p ≤ 0.003). Baseline Glu predicted rTMS responder status (p = 0.025) and had an area under the receiving operating characteristic curve of 0.81 (p = 0.009), demonstrating excellent discriminative ability. Baseline Glu, Glx, and tNAA significantly predicted MDD improvement after rTMS; preliminary evidence also demonstrates metabolite association with symptom subdomain improvement post-rTMS. This work provides feasibility for a personalized medicine approach to rTMS treatment selection, with individuals with Glu levels in the lower range potentially being the best candidates.