Brain Imaging Biomarkers of Pathological Brain Aging in Late-life Depression

Overview

This study investigates the relationships and differences in PET-MRI brain imaging biomarkers of abnormal aging and behavioral measures in late life depression compared to healthy controls, and evaluates relationships and differences in the same imaging and behavioral measures following electroconvulsive therapy. The study tests the hypotheses that late-life depression will be associated with higher levels of accelerated aging and brain disease biomarkers, and that electroconvulsive therapy works by stimulating the reorganization of brain tissue.The data collected with contribute to improved knowledge about the neurobiology of late-life psychopathology and its treatment.

This clinical study is a combined single-center, cohort study with a (1) cross-sectional arm evaluating relationships and differences in PET-MR imaging and behavioral measures in 64 patients with late life depression (LLD) compared to 64 healthy controls, and (2) a longitudinal arm evaluating relationships and differences in imaging and behavioral measures in 20 patients receiving ECT as part of their normal clinical management. The study will utilise three PET tracers: (1) \[11C\]UCB-J, which targets the Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A receptor, to estimate synaptic density (2) \[18F\]MK-6240, which targets tau associated with neurofibrillary tangles, to assess the presence of tau pathology and (3) \[18F\]-Flutemetamol, which targets beta-amyloid neuritic plaques in the brain, to assess the presence of cerebral amyloidosis. The main aim of the study is to clarify how hippocampal synaptic density, tau, amyloid and white matter lesions, relate to neuropsychological function, stress and ECT in late life depression.

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Interventions