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A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study of White Matter Lesions in Depression and Alzheimer's Disease

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

John O'brien ,
Patricia Desmond ,
David Ames ,
Isaac Schweitzer ,
Susan Harrigan  and
Brian Tress
John O'brien*
Affiliation:
Brighton Clinic, Newcastle General Hospital
Patricia Desmond
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, University of Melbourne
David Ames
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050, Australia
Isaac Schweitzer
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050, Australia
Susan Harrigan
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050, Australia
Brian Tress
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, University of Melbourne, c/o The Post Office, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050, Australia
*
Dr John O'brien, Brighton Clinic, Newcastle General Hospital, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6BE. Fax 0191 272 0816
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Abstract

Background

White matter changes, as revealed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may occur in depression and Alzheimer's disease.

Method

T2-weighted MRI scans were performed in 39 control subjects, 61 subjects with NINCDS/ADRDA Alzheimer's disease and 60 subjects with DSM–III–R major depression. Deep white matter lesions (DWML) and periventricular lesions (PVL) were rated on a standard 0–3 scale by two radiologists blind to clinical diagnosis.

Results

After controlling for differences in vascular risk factors and current blood pressure, DWML were significantly more common in depressed subjects and PVL in Alzheimer's disease subjects compared to controls. DWML were most common in those presenting in late life with their first ever depression and 50% of such subjects had severe (grade 3) DWML.

Conclusion

An association between DWML and depression and PVL and Alzheimer's disease is supported. The increase with DWML that occurs with ageing may predispose some elderly subjects to depression.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 168 , Issue 4 , April 1996 , pp. 477 - 485
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1996 

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