The neural correlates of perceived energy levels in older adults with late-life depression

Charlene L M Lam, Ho-Ling Liu, Chih-Mao Huang, Yau-Yau Wai, Shwu-Hua Lee, Jenny Yiend, Chemin Lin, Tatia M C Lee, Charlene L M Lam, Ho-Ling Liu, Chih-Mao Huang, Yau-Yau Wai, Shwu-Hua Lee, Jenny Yiend, Chemin Lin, Tatia M C Lee

Abstract

Late-life depression is common among older adults. Although white-matter abnormality is highly implicated, the extent to which the corticospinal tract is associated with the pathophysiology of late-life depression is unclear. The current study aims to investigate the white-matter structural integrity of the corticospinal tract and determine its cognitive and functional correlates in older adults with late-life depression. Twenty-eight older adults with clinical depression and 23 healthy age-matched older adults participated in the study. The white matter volume and the white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) of the corticospinal tract, as well as the global WMHs, were measured. Psychomotor processing speed, severity of depression, perceived levels of energy and physical functioning were measured to examine the relationships among the correlates in the depressed participants. The right corticospinal tract volume was significantly higher in depressed older adults relative to healthy controls. Moreover, the right corticospinal tract volume was significantly associated with the overall severity of depression and accounted for 17% of its variance. It further attenuated the relationship between the severity of depression and perceived levels of energy. Our findings suggested that higher volume in the right corticospinal tract is implicated in LLD and may relate to lower perceived levels of energy experienced by older adults with depression.

Keywords: Corticospinal tract; Late-life depression; Processing speed; White matter; White matter hyperintensities.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Location of the right corticospinal tract (Left: Sagittal view; Right: Coronal view)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The effect of right corticospinal tract volume on the relationship between depression severity and perceived energy level. Standardized regression coefficient of each path is reported. * p < .05; ** p < .01. c represents the regression coefficient of depression severity on perceived level before including right corticospinal tract WM volume into the equation; c’ the value after including right corticospinal tract WM volume

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