Anterior Cingulate Metabolic Abnormalities in Late-Life Major Depression

Olusola Ajilore¹, Aifeng Zhang¹, Rajakumar Nagarajan², Albert Thomas², Anand Kumar¹

Previous studies have identified neuroanatomical abnormalities associated with late-life depression. The purpose of the present study was to examine biochemical alterations in the anterior cingulate using two-dimensional magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Comparing 20 subjects with late-life major depression to 20 age and gender-matched controls, glycine and glutathione ratios were significantly elevated. Additionally, glycine and glutathione ratios were significantly correlated with severity of depression. This study provides preliminary evidence of metabolic alterations in the anterior cingulate that may be reflective of both excitotoxic and oxidative damage as mechanisms associated with the pathophysiology of major depression.