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Gradone AM, Champion G, McGregor KM, Nocera JR, Barber SJ, Krishnamurthy LC, Dotson VM. Rostral anterior cingulate connectivity in older adults with subthreshold depressive symptoms: A preliminary study. Aging Brain 2022; 3:100059. [PMID: 36911261 PMCID: PMC9997166 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbas.2022.100059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Subthreshold depressive symptoms are highly prevalent among older adults and are associated with numerous health risks including cognitive decline and decreased physical health. One brain region central to neuroanatomical models of depressive disorders is the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). The rostral portion of the ACC-comprised of the pregenual ACC and subgenual ACC-is implicated in emotion control and reward processing. The goal of the current study was to examine how functional connectivity in subregions of the rostral ACC relate to depressive symptoms, measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition, in an ethnically diverse sample of 28 community-dwelling older adults. Based on meta-analyses of previous studies in primarily young adults with clinical depression, we hypothesized that greater depressive symptoms would be associated with primarily increased resting-state functional connectivity from both the subgenual ACC and pregenual ACC to default mode network regions and the dorsolateral PFC. We instead found that higher depressive symptoms were associated with lower functional connectivity of the ACC to the dorsolateral PFC and regions within the default mode network, including from the subgenual ACC to the dorsolateral PFC and anterior cingulate and from the pregenual ACC to the middle cingulate gyrus. This preliminary study highlights brain alterations at subthreshold levels of depressive symptoms in older adults, which could serve as targets for interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M. Gradone
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Gabriell Champion
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- VA Rehabilitation Research & Development Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Atlanta VA Health Care System, Decatur, GA, United States
| | - Keith M. McGregor
- VA Rehabilitation Research & Development Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Atlanta VA Health Care System, Decatur, GA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Birmingham VA Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Birmingham, AL, United States
- University of Alabama –Birmingham, School of Health Professions, Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, Birmingham, United States
| | - Joe R. Nocera
- VA Rehabilitation Research & Development Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Atlanta VA Health Care System, Decatur, GA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Sarah J. Barber
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Gerontology Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Lisa C. Krishnamurthy
- VA Rehabilitation Research & Development Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Atlanta VA Health Care System, Decatur, GA, United States
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Vonetta M. Dotson
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Gerontology Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Dotson VM, Bogoian HR, Gradone AM, Taiwo Z, Minto LR. Subthreshold depressive symptoms relate to cuneus structure: Thickness asymmetry and sex differences. J Psychiatr Res 2021; 145:144-147. [PMID: 34922098 PMCID: PMC10436250 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Despite the prominence of frontolimbic regions in depression research, recent studies also implicate posterior brain regions, including the cuneus. The current study examined the relationship between depressive symptoms and asymmetry in cuneal cortical thickness in healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 81 with primarily subthreshold levels of depressive symptoms. An asymmetry index was calculated for cortical thickness in the cuneus [(left - right) × 100/(left + right)], and regression analyses were conducted with total scores on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale predicting this asymmetry index, controlling for age and sex. Higher depressive symptoms were associated with a left > right asymmetry in cuneal cortical thickness, reflecting greater cortical thickness in the left hemisphere compared to right hemisphere. Follow-up analyses examining CES-D subscales showed significant effects for somatic symptoms of depression, but not negative affect or anhedonia. Analyses stratified by sex yielded significant effects in men but not in women. Results of this preliminary study further support the cuneus' role in depression and highlight the importance of examining symptom dimensions and sex differences in the neurobiology of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vonetta M Dotson
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 5010, Atlanta, GA, 30302-5010, Georgia; Gerontology Institute, Georgia State University, PO Box 3984, Atlanta, GA, 30302-3984.
| | - Hannah R Bogoian
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 5010, Atlanta, GA, 30302-5010, Georgia
| | - Andrew M Gradone
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 5010, Atlanta, GA, 30302-5010, Georgia
| | - Zinat Taiwo
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 5010, Atlanta, GA, 30302-5010, Georgia
| | - Lex R Minto
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 5010, Atlanta, GA, 30302-5010, Georgia
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Saurman JL, Vickers KL, Rodriguez AD, Andrews M, Gradone AM, Jean KR, Goldstein FC. The utility of the Oral Trail Making Test in telehealth assessments with cognitively impaired older adults. Alzheimers Dement 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/alz.054781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Dotson VM, Gradone AM, Bogoian HR, Minto LR, Taiwo Z, Salling ZN. Be Fit, Be Sharp, Be Well: The Case for Exercise as a Treatment for Cognitive Impairment in Late-life Depression. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2021; 27:776-789. [PMID: 34154693 PMCID: PMC10436256 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617721000710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To lay out the argument that exercise impacts neurobiological targets common to both mood and cognitive functioning, and thus more research should be conducted on its use as an alternative or adjunctive treatment for cognitive impairment in late-life depression (LLD). METHOD This narrative review summarizes the literature on cognitive impairment in LLD, describes the structural and functional brain changes and neurochemical changes that are linked to both cognitive impairment and mood disruption, and explains how exercise targets these same neurobiological changes and can thus provide an alternative or adjunctive treatment for cognitive impairment in LLD. RESULTS Cognitive impairment is common in LLD and predicts recurrence of depression, poor response to antidepressant treatment, and overall disability. Traditional depression treatment with medication, psychotherapy, or both, is not effective in fully reversing cognitive impairment for most depressed older adults. Physical exercise is an ideal treatment candidate based on evidence that it 1) is an effective treatment for depression, 2) enhances cognitive functioning in normal aging and in other patient populations, and 3) targets many of the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie mood and cognitive functioning. Results of the limited existing clinical trials of exercise for cognitive impairment in depression are mixed but overall support this contention. CONCLUSIONS Although limited, existing evidence suggests exercise may be a viable alternative or adjunctive treatment to address cognitive impairment in LLD, and thus more research in this area is warranted. Moving forward, additional research is needed in large, diverse samples to translate the growing research findings into clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vonetta M. Dotson
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University
- Gerontology Institute, Georgia State University
| | | | | | - Lex R. Minto
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University
| | - Zinat Taiwo
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University
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Dotson VM, McClintock SM, Verhaeghen P, Kim JU, Draheim AA, Syzmkowicz SM, Gradone AM, Bogoian HR, Wit LD. Depression and Cognitive Control across the Lifespan: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Neuropsychol Rev 2020; 30:461-476. [PMID: 32385756 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-020-09436-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Depression has been shown to negatively impact neurocognitive functions, particularly those governed by fronto-subcortical networks, such as executive functions. Converging evidence suggests that depression-related executive dysfunction is greater at older ages, however, this has not been previously confirmed by meta-analysis. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis, using three-level models, on peer-reviewed studies that examined depression-related differences in cognitive control in healthy community-dwelling individuals of any age. We focused on studies of cognitive control as defined by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework, which centers on goal-directed behavior, such as goal selection (updating, representations, maintenance), response selection (inhibition or suppression), and performance monitoring. In 16,806 participants aged 7 to 97 across 76 studies, both clinical depression and subthreshold depressive symptoms were associated with cognitive control deficits (Hedges' g = -0.31). This relationship was stronger in study samples with an older mean age. Within studies with a mean age of 39 years or higher, which represents the median age in our analyses, the relationship was stronger in clinical compared to subthreshold depression and in individuals taking antidepressant medication. These findings highlight the importance of clinicians screening for cognitive control dysfunction in patients with depression, particularly in later stages of adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vonetta M Dotson
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 5010, Atlanta, GA, 30302-5010, USA. .,Gerontology Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Shawn M McClintock
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Paul Verhaeghen
- School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Joseph U Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Amanda A Draheim
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 5010, Atlanta, GA, 30302-5010, USA
| | - Sarah M Syzmkowicz
- Department of Neurological Services, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Andrew M Gradone
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 5010, Atlanta, GA, 30302-5010, USA
| | - Hannah R Bogoian
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 5010, Atlanta, GA, 30302-5010, USA
| | - Liselotte De Wit
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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