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Recent Advances in Neuroimaging Biomarkers in Geriatric Psychiatry

  • Geriatric Disorders (H Lavretsky, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Neuroimaging, both structural and functional, serve as useful adjuncts to clinical assessment, and can provide objective, reliable means of assessing disease presence and process in the aging population. In the following review we briefly explain current imaging methodologies. Then, we analyze recent developments in developing neuroimaging biomarkers for two highly prevalent disorders in the elderly population- Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and late-life depression (LLD). In AD, efforts are focused on early diagnosis through in vivo visualization of disease pathophysiology. In LLD, recent imaging evidence supports the role of white matter ischemic changes in the pathogenesis of depression in the elderly, the “vascular hypothesis.” Finally, we discuss potential roles for neuroimaging biomarkers in geriatric psychiatry in the future.

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Conflict of Interest

Abhisek C. Khandai declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Howard J. Aizenstein declares that he has no conflict of interest.

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  1. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Abhisek C. Khandai

  2. Departments of Psychiatry and Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Howard J. Aizenstein

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  1. Abhisek C. Khandai
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Correspondence to Howard J. Aizenstein.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Geriatric Disorders

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Khandai, A.C., Aizenstein, H.J. Recent Advances in Neuroimaging Biomarkers in Geriatric Psychiatry. Curr Psychiatry Rep 15, 360 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-013-0360-9

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