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Current Psychiatry Reports
Published in: Current Psychiatry Reports 4/2012

01-08-2012 | Geriatric Disorders (DC Steffens, Section Editor)

Biological Basis of Late Life Depression

Authors: Brianne M. Disabato, Yvette I. Sheline

Published in: Current Psychiatry Reports | Issue 4/2012

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Abstract

Late life depression (LLD) is an important area of research given the growing elderly population. The purpose of this review is to examine the available evidence for the biological basis of LLD. Structural neuroimaging shows specific gray matter structural changes in LLD as well as ischemic lesion burden via white matter hyperintensities. Similarly, specific neuropsychological deficits have been found in LLD. An inflammatory response is another possible underlying contributor to the pathophysiology of LLD. We review the available literature examining these multiple facets of LLD and how each may affect clinical outcome in the depressed elderly.
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Metadata
Title
Biological Basis of Late Life Depression
Authors
Brianne M. Disabato
Yvette I. Sheline
Publication date
01-08-2012
Publisher
Current Science Inc.
Published in
Current Psychiatry Reports / Issue 4/2012
Print ISSN: 1523-3812
Electronic ISSN: 1535-1645
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-012-0279-6

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