Striatal Hypodensities Linked to Late-Onset Depression in Alzheimer's Disease
Author Information
Author(s): Jessica A. Brommelhoff, Bryan M. Spann, John L. Go, Wendy J. Mack, Margaret Gatz
Primary Institution: University of Southern California
Hypothesis
Individuals with dementia and late-onset depression will exhibit more hypodensities in specific brain regions compared to non-depressed individuals with dementia.
Conclusion
The study found that individuals with Alzheimer's disease and late-onset depression had significantly more striatal hypodensities compared to those without depression.
Supporting Evidence
- Individuals with Alzheimer's disease and late-onset depression had more striatal hypodensities.
- Late-onset depression was not significantly associated with white matter hypodensities.
- Age at the time of the CT scan was associated with subcortical white matter hypodensities.
Takeaway
People with Alzheimer's disease who get depressed later in life have more brain changes in certain areas than those who don't get depressed.
Methodology
The study used CT scans to assess brain hypodensities in individuals diagnosed with dementia and a history of depression.
Potential Biases
Potential misclassification of depression history due to reliance on medical records and informant reports.
Limitations
The study's cross-sectional design limits causal inferences, and CT imaging may not detect subtle brain changes compared to MRI.
Participant Demographics
The majority of participants were female (63.7%), with an average age of 80.6 years and an average education of 7.4 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.03
Confidence Interval
95% CI = 1.02, 5.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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