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Vascular Contributions to Late Life Depression

  • Geropsychiatry & Cognitive Disorders of Late Life (P Newhouse, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Behavioral Neuroscience Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review aims to examine the current evidence for vascular contributions to late life depression (LLD).

Recent Findings

White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are very common in the elderly. Greater WMH severity is consistently associated with LLD. High levels of endothelial plasma soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, indicating vascular endothelial dysfunction, are associated with LLD. Chronic ischemic lesions, which are visualized as WMHs on T2-weighted or fluid-attenuated inversion recovery image of MRI, may disrupt frontal-subcortical-limbic networks. These disruptions can then be detected on diffusion tensor imaging. Vascular diseases (stroke, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and homocysteinemia) and hemodynamic dysfunction are also established risk factors for LLD.

Summary

Convergent evidence indicates that vascular depression is a useful construct accounting for vascular contributions to LLD. Comprehensive understanding of vascular contributions to LLD will not only inform preventive strategies for LLD but also provide guidance on developing innovative treatments for ameliorating specific vascular risk factors.

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  1. Department of Psychiatry, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju National University Hospital, Jejudo, South Korea

    Joon Hyuk Park

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Jeju National University Hospital, 15, Aran 13-gil, Jeju-si, Jejudo, 63241, South Korea

    Joon Hyuk Park

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Park, J.H. Vascular Contributions to Late Life Depression. Curr Behav Neurosci Rep 4, 291–298 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40473-017-0128-3

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