J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2013 Jul;52(4):215-222.

A Correlation Analysis between the Location of White Matter Hyperintensities and Cognitive Functions in Korean Vascular Depression Patients

• Yi M
• Jung W
• Hahn C
• Lee CU
• Lim HK

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study is to investigate correlation between the location of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and neurocognitive dysfunction in non-demented Korean vascular depression patients.
METHODS
A total of 148 subjects diagnosed with first major depressive episode after the age of 60 were included in this study. Subjects were divided into the vascular depression group (n=83) and the non-vascular depression group (n=65) according to the degree of WMH. The degree and location of WMH on T2-weighted images were measured using the Scheltens scale. In addition, several clinical features, including cognitive functions and depression severities, were evaluated. Correlation analysis was performed for examination of the relationships between the location of WMH and neuropsychological functions.
RESULTS
Capsular frontal periventricular hyperintensities showed correlation with poorer performance of the word list memory test, constructional recall test, and trail making test A and B. Lateral ventricular hyperintensities showed correlation with poorer performance of verbal fluency test, word list recognition test, and trail making test B. Deep WMH, especially parietal and occipital lesions, showed an association with poorer performance on trail making test B. In addition, deep WMH, but not periventricular WMH, showed an association with Hamilton Depression Scale score.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that subjects with vascular depression showed significantly poorer performance on neurocognitive tests than those with non-vascular depression. In addition, WMH, depending on their locations, showed different correlations according to details of cognitive dysfunction and severity of depressive symptoms.

Keyword

Late life depression; White matter hyperintensities; Vascular depression; Cognitive function

MeSH Terms

Depression
Humans
Memory
Trail Making Test

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