Measuring Cerebral Blood Perfusion: A Noninvasive Biomarker for Adolescent Depression?

Compared with controls, adolescents with depression had differences in cerebral blood perfusion in regions that affect symptoms of depression.

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) abnormalities have been documented in adults with depression. Investigators used a new noninvasive method of measuring rCBF (arterial spin labeling) from functional magnetic resonance imaging in 25 medication-naive adolescents (age range, 13–17 years) with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 26 matched healthy controls. Arterial spin labeling provides an absolute estimate of rCBF derived from subtraction of tagged magnetically labeled arterial water and control images that is proportional to cerebral perfusion changes.

Compared with controls, adolescents with MDD had significant hypoperfusion in the frontal, amygdalar, insular, cingular, and cerebellar regions and hyperperfusion in the subcallosal cingulat…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics