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The segregated connectome of late-life depression: a combined cortical thickness and structural covariance analysis.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Colloby, Sean J 
Thomas, Alan 
O'Brien, John T 

Abstract

Late-life depression (LLD) has been associated with both generalized and focal neuroanatomical changes including gray matter atrophy and white matter abnormalities. However, previous literature has not been consistent and, in particular, its impact on the topology organization of brain networks remains to be established. In this multimodal study, we first examined cortical thickness, and applied graph theory to investigate structural covariance networks in LLD. Thirty-three subjects with LLD and 25 controls underwent T1-weighted, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and clinical assessments. Freesurfer was used to perform vertex-wise comparisons of cortical thickness, whereas the Graph Analysis Toolbox (GAT) was implemented to construct and analyze the structural covariance networks. LLD showed a trend of lower thickness in the left insular region (p < 0.001 uncorrected). In addition, the structural network of LLD was characterized by greater segregation, particularly showing higher transitivity (i.e., measure of clustering) and modularity (i.e., tendency for a network to be organized into subnetworks). It was also less robust against random failure and targeted attacks. Despite relative cortical preservation, the topology of the LLD network showed significant changes particularly in segregation. These findings demonstrate the potential for graph theoretical approaches to complement conventional structural imaging analyses and provide novel insights into the heterogeneous etiology and pathogenesis of LLD.

Description

Keywords

Brain network, Dementia, Depression, Graph theory, Imaging, Late-life depression, Psychiatry, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cerebral Cortex, Connectome, Depression, Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged

Journal Title

Neurobiol Aging

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0197-4580
1558-1497

Volume Title

Publisher

Elsevier BV
Sponsorship
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) (unknown)
This work was supported by the NIHR Biomedical Research Unit in Dementia and the Biomedical Research Centre awarded to Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge, and the NIHR Biomedical Research Unit in Dementia and the Biomedical Research Centre awarded to Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Newcastle University. Elijah Mak was in receipt of a Gates Cambridge, PhD studentship.