Molecular Basis Underlying Changes of Brain Entropy and Couplings in Late-life Depression.
| Journal | Current neuropharmacology |
| Study Type | Clinical Study |
| Population | Human participants |
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Late-life depression (LLD) with high prevalence accelerates cognitive impairment and becomes a risk factor for dementia, yet the pathogenesis of LLD is still largely unclear. Delineating the neuromolecular mechanism of LLD is of great significance to its etiology, early diagnosis, and precision treatment. This study included 35 patients with LLD and 41 age-matched healthy controls (HCs). Brain entropy (BEN) and functional connectivity (FC) were used to assess the abnormalities in brain functional system irregularity and couplings in LLD, using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Additionally, transcriptome and neurotransmitter data were employed to investigate the neuromolecular mechanisms underlying these changes. Compared with HCs, patients with LLD exhibited significantly reduced BEN in the temporoparietal junction (TPJ) and decreased FC between TPJ and the middle frontal gyrus (MFG). Moreover, the changes of BEN were closely associated with the genes’ expression pr
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FAQ
Why is late-life depression an important focus for research?
Late-life depression is highly prevalent, accelerates cognitive impairment, and is a risk factor for dementia, yet its causes remain largely unclear. The article states that clarifying its neuromolecular mechanism is of great significance for understanding its origins, diagnosing it early, and developing precision treatment.
How did the researchers study the brain in late-life depression?
The study compared 35 patients with late-life depression with 41 age-matched healthy controls using resting-state functional MRI. Brain entropy was used to assess irregularity in brain functional systems, and functional connectivity was used to assess couplings. Transcriptome and neurotransmitter data were then used to explore the molecular mechanisms behind these changes.
What brain differences were found in people with late-life depression?
Compared with healthy controls, patients with late-life depression showed significantly reduced brain entropy in the temporoparietal junction (TPJ). They also had decreased functional connectivity between the temporoparietal junction and the middle frontal gyrus (MFG), indicating weaker coupling between these two brain areas.
