Late life depression and late onset depression: are the same clinical and pathopsysiological picture?

Psychiatr Danub. 2010 Nov:22 Suppl 1:S108-10.

Abstract

Phenomenological differences between older patients with late- and early-onset depression may reflect differences in aetiology and neuropathological processes involved in these two types of depression. Early- onset depression has been mainly correlated to a family history of depression while late-onset depression has been principally correlated to vascular dysfunction. The same cortical and sub-cortical areas are involved in both types of depression. However, lesions in these brain areas and cognitive impairment are most pronounced in late-onset depression. Based on these observations we propose a common neuroanatomical substrate but different pathophysiological processes implicated in these two types of depression.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis
  • Cognition Disorders / genetics
  • Cognition Disorders / physiopathology
  • Cognition Disorders / psychology
  • Dementia, Vascular / diagnosis
  • Dementia, Vascular / genetics
  • Dementia, Vascular / physiopathology
  • Depressive Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Depressive Disorder / genetics
  • Depressive Disorder / physiopathology*
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged