In a prospective study of depressed elderly patients referred for
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), subcortical white matter hyperintensity
(WMH) was seen in all 51 patients 60 years or older who received magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) prior to treatment. In over half of the patients
the WMH was formally rated as at least moderately severe, and it was
commonly associated with other structural brain changes. The majority (80%)
of patients had late-age-onset depression, suggesting that structural brain
changes may interact with aging to facilitate the emergency of depression
in late life.
Abstract Teaser