Cognitive Deficits in Depression and Functional Specificity of Regional Brain Activity

Abstract

The growing literature on cognitive deficits in depression is considered in light of regional brain activity as well as comorbid anxiety and life stressors. Cognitive impairments associated with depression are reviewed, with an emphasis on various aspects of executive function such as memory, attention, and problem-solving. These deficits are related to patterns of brain activity observed in prefrontal, anterior cingulate, and parietal cortices, as well as in subcortical regions. Evidence for the largely unexplored role of environmental stressors in depression and their impact on cognition and brain function is also examined, and promising avenues of additional research are noted. In addition to promoting interdisciplinary research, systematically assessing variables such as cognitive performance, comorbid anxiety, and relevant stressors may elucidate distinct patterns of brain function and cognition that could inform prevention and intervention.

Emotional availability and social skills: A link between mother-child depressive symptoms

“…In addition to amplified negative cognitions, depression is also related to difficulties concentrating and reduced cognitive functioning (APA, 2010;Levin, Heller, Mohanty, Herrington, & Miller, 2007). For example , Bredemeier et al (2012) found that depressive symptoms increase cognitive load such that experiencing depression mirrors the reduction in cognitive ability experienced when multi-tasking.…”

“…For example , Bredemeier et al (2012) found that depressive symptoms increase cognitive load such that experiencing depression mirrors the reduction in cognitive ability experienced when multi-tasking. Similarity, individuals experiencing depressive symptoms typically exhibit difficulties focusing and are often distracted (Levin et al, 2007). Thus, reduced cognitive processing may manifest in behaviors that signal emotional discord to children of depressed mothers -particularly in social interactions that require complex cognitive engagement.…”

Do estresse precoce à depressão: avaliação da atividade do eixo Hipotálamo-Pituitária-Adrenal (HPA) e da função cognitiva

“…Na amígdala a ação prolongada dos hormônios do estresse altera os mecanismos de plasticidade promovendo aumento e gênese de espinhas dendríticas resultando em aumento do volume e hiperresponsividade dessa estrutura van Eijndoven et al, 2009). No córtex pré-frontal, tal como no hipocampo, ocorre prejuízo das conexões sinápticas através da perda de espinhas dendríticas e atrofia cortical (Fuchs, Flugge, & Czeh, 2006;Joels & Baram, 2009;Levin, Heller, Mohanty, Herrington, & Miller, 2007).…”

“…Uma rede neural entre as regiões pré-frontais e límbicas considerada subjacente aos déficits cognitivos estaria relacionada a uma variedade de experiências afetivas negativas (Bremner et al, 2003;Levin, Heller, Mohanty, Herrington, & Miller, 2007;McDermott e Ebmeier, 2009). Em contrapartida, a falha na modulação das redes córtico-subcorticais associadas ao humor seria potencialmente responsável por algumas das características somáticas e fenótipos da depressão unipolar (Zhang et al, 2011).…”

“…A literatura apresenta diversas evidências de alterações estruturais dessas regiões como diminuição no volume do hipocampo (Campbell, Marriott, Nahamias, & MacQueen, 2004;MacQueen, Yucel,Taylor, Macdonald, & Joffe, 2008) e córtex pré-frontal (Fuchs, Czeh, Kole, Michaelis & Lucassen, 2004;Jöels & Baram, 2009;Levin et al, 2007) relacionadas à depressão. São também fornecidas evidências de aumento no volume da amígdala (Roozendaal, McEwen, & Chatterji, 2009;van Eijndhoven et al, 2009) resultando em desequilíbrio na conectividade entre essas estruturas.…”