White matter hyperintensities and depression—preliminary results from the LADIS study

• Published in: International journal of geriatric psychiatry 2005-07, Vol.20 (7), p.674-679
• Main Authors: Firbank, Michael J., O'Brien, John T., Pakrasi, Sanjeet, Pantoni, Leonardo, Simoni, Michela, Erkinjuntti, Timo, Wallin, Anders, Wahlund, Lars‐Olof, Straaten, Ilse van, Inzitari, Domenico
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 80 and over; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Brain; Brain - pathology; Depression; Depression - pathology; Depressive Disorder; Depressive Disorder - pathology; elderly; Female; Geriatric Assessment; Geriatric psychiatry; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertension - pathology; Hypertension - psychology; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES; MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP; Mental depression; methods; MRI; Neurology; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Older people; pathology; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; psychology; Quality of Life; Stroke; Stroke - pathology; Stroke - psychology; White matter hyperintensities
• ISSN: 0885-6230; 1099-1166
• DOI: 10.1002/gps.1342

Background White matter hyperintensities have been associated with the development of depression in older subjects, though the details of this relationship are not fully understood. Methods In a pan‐European multicentre study of 629 older subjects, we examined the relationship between MRI white matter hyperintensities (WMH), depressive symptoms and self perceived health quality of life (QOL). WMH were rated using a three‐point scale. Results We found depressive symptoms as assessed by the geriatric depression 15‐item scale to be associated with WMH rating (Spearman's rho 0.11, p = 0.008) and also with the Euro‐QOL health score (Spearman's rho −0.5, p