SIGNAL HYPERINTENSITIES ON BRAIN MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING IN ELDERLY DEPRESSED-PATIENTS

In a retrospective brain magnetic resonance imaging study, we evaluate d the prevalence and severity of signal hyperintensities in 30 elderly depressed patients and 30 controls matched for age, sex and cerebrova scular risk factors. A semiquantitative scoring method was used to gra de findings in T2-weighted and proton density images. The elderly depr essed patients had more extended periventricular hyperintensities, esp ecially in the frontal region (depressed vs. control, 87 vs. 57%, p < 0.05), pens (33 vs. 7%, p < 0.05) as well as hyperintensities in the p utamen and globus pallidus (57 vs. 27%, p < 0.05). The third ventricle was more dilated in depressed patients than controls after adjustment for age and cerebrovascular risk factors. The global index for ventri cular enlargement was correlated significantly (r = 0.36, p < 0.05) wi th the severity of the hyperintensity in depressed patients. Our resul ts indicate that these hyperintensities, especially in the frontal reg ion, pens and lenticular nuclei, and the dilatation of the third ventr icle play an important role, through the frontal-subcortical circuits, in mood regulation of elderly depressed patients.