Depression linked to damaged brains, say Scots scientists

DAMAGE to specific parts of the human brain structures are associated with a greater risk of depression in older people but keeping fit can alleviate symptoms, according to research by Scottish scientists.

One of the MRI brain scans used in the Aberdeen findings

Doctors at Aberdeen University used MRI scans and statistical modelling to find the link between areas of brain damage, intelligence, physical fitness and depression.

The MRI scans were used to identify the location of “brain lesions” – areas of brain damage, usually indicative of blood vessel disease in the brain. If the lesions were in deep brain structures the affected person was more likely to have depressive symptoms than if the damage was elsewhere.

However, it was found that higher levels of intelligence and better physical fitness reduced the risk of depressive symptoms even in people with deep brain lesions.

Alison Murray, Professor of Radiology at Aberdeen, said yesterday: “Our results confirmed previous findings that lesions predict depressive symptoms, but we went a step further to show that the presentation of depressive symptoms depends on where the lesions are in the brain.

“This is the first study that has determined what symptoms people are likely to experience depending on where lesions are. We found that if the lesions involve deep structures in the brain they are more likely to be associated with depressive symptoms, whereas, if they are in the brain stem and cerebellum, people are more likely to be physically impaired.

“In addition to this, we found that people with higher intelligence and better physical health are protected from the depressive symptoms associated with these lesions. This supports the whole concept that exercise is good for brain and mood and can reduce depressive symptoms.

“In terms of practical applications, this research means that in the future, we can use this information to identify and those at greater risk of depressive symptoms and in doing so target appropriate people to treat.”

“We are extremely grateful to Aberdeen birth cohort participants for giving up their time to help us understand major health problems like depression.”

The team say their research means doctors will be able to use such information to identify elderly people at greater risk of depressive symptoms, and in doing so target appropriate people to treat.

The research is published in the journal Archives of Gerentology and Geriatrics.