Emotional Cognition: Establishing Constructs and Neural-Behavioral Mechanisms in Older Adults With Depression

Summary

This is a cross-sectional pilot study designed to establish hot and cold cognitive functions and underlying neurocircuitry in older adults with MDD. The investigators will study 120 participants aged 21-80 years old with MDD. All participants will undergo clinical and neurocognitive assessment, and Magnetoencephalography (MEG)/Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures at one time point. The investigators will also enroll 120 demographically matched comparable, never-depressed healthy participants (controls) to establish cognitive benchmarks. Healthy controls will complete clinical and neurocognitive measures at one time point. To attain a balanced sample of adults across the lifespan, the investigators will enroll participants such that each age epoch (e.g., 21-30, 31-40, etc.) has a total of ten subjects (n=10) in both the healthy control cohort and depressed cohort.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male and female participants
2. Age between 21-80 years old
3. DSM-5 diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) based on Mini Neuropsychiatric Interview
4. Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Clinician Rated version (IDS-C) total score \> 14
5. Able to read, write, and comprehend English
6. Provide informed consent; willing to comply with study protocol

Exclusion Criteria:

1. History of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder
2. Presence of psychotic features
3. Lifetime central nervous system (CNS) disease (including head injury with loss of consciousness \> 5 minutes)
4. History of neurodevelopmental disorder (e.g., Autism spectrum disorder)
5. History of medical conditions that can affect neurocognitive function as well as be confounded with age (e.g., thyroid disease, endocrine illnesses)
6. Women who are pregnant
7. Current use of medications with known impacts on neurocognitive function (e.g., acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, amphetamine, methylphenidate, vortioxetine, sedatives)
8. Alcohol/substance use disorder within past 3 months
9. DSM-5 diagnosis of major cognitive impairment
10. Current sensory or physical impairment that interferes with testing.
11. Contraindication to MRI and MEG (only for depressed participants) (e.g., any electronic / metallic implants near or within the head or body, claustrophobia)

Conditions3

Locations2 sites

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