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Reduced hippocampal volumes and memory loss in patients with early- and late-onset depression

Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney

Philip B. Ward, PhD and Keelin Turner, MClinNpsych

School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales

Elizabeth Scott, FRANZCP

Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney

Philip Mitchell, FRCPsych, Kay Wilhelm, FRANZCP and Gordon Parker, FRANZCP

School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia

Correspondence: Professor Ian Hickie, Brain & Mind Research Institute, PO Box M160, Missenden Road, NSW Australia. Tel: +612 9351 0799, Fax: +612 9351 0652; E-mail: ianh{at}med.usyd.edu.au

Declaration of interest Supported by National Health and Medical Research Council Program Grant No.953208.

Background Hippocampal volume reduction has been reported inconsistently in people with major depression.

Aims To evaluate the interrelationships between hippocampal volumes, memory and key clinical, vascular and genetic risk factors.

Method Totals of 66 people with depression and 20 control participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging and clinical assessment. Measures of depression severity, psychomotor retardation, verbal and visual memory and vascular and specific genetic risk factors were collected.

Results Reduced hippocampal volumes occurred in older people with depression, those with both early-onset and late-onset disorders and those with the melancholic subtype. Reduced hippocampal volumes were associated with deficits in visual and verbal memory performance.

Conclusions Although reduced hippocampal volumes are most pronounced in late-onset depression, older people with early-onset disorders also display volume changes and memory loss. No clear vascular or genetic risk factors explain these findings. Hippocampal volume changes may explain how depression emerges as a risk factor to dementia.

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