Functional assessment of prefrontal lobes in patients with major depression disorder using a dual-mode technique of 3D-arterial spin labeling and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the functions of cerebral blood perfusion and glucose metabolism in the prefrontal lobe of patients with major depression disorder (MDD), and to analyze the correlations between these functional changes and depressive symptoms. 3D-arterial spin labeling (ASL) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) were successfully performed in 17 patients with MDD and 16 healthy controls in a resting state. The depressive symptoms of the patients were classified into seven factors and scored with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) values and standardized uptake values (SUV) of 18F-FDG in the whole brain were respectively compared between the patients and healthy controls using a two-sample t-test, and the correlations between the CBF and SUV in the prefrontal cerebral regions with the patients' Hamilton scores were evaluated using Pearson correlation analysis. Decreased regional CBF was indicated in the bilateral middle and the right superior frontal gyri, and decreased regional SUV was indicated in the bilateral superior, middle and inferior frontal gyri in the MDD patients compared with the controls. Positive correlations were observed between CBF values and aggregate Hamilton scores in the left middle and right middle frontal gyri of the patients. Positive correlations were also observed between SUVs and aggregate Hamilton scores in the left middle and right middle frontal gyri. 18F-FDG PET/CT was indicated to be more sensitive than 3D-ASL in identifying the functional abnormalities in the prefrontal lobe. Decreased CBF and SUV in the prefrontal lobe were closely correlated with Hamilton score. The left middle frontal gyrus may be a key functional region in MDD.

Benefit of human moderate running boosting mood and executive function coinciding with bilateral prefrontal activation

“…The l-DLPFC, which plays an important role in the implementation of cognitive control, had increase of Oxy-Hb response to Stroop interference, which corresponds to the results of previous studies including our own 4 , 5 , 30 , 55 , 56 . Besides, the l-DLPFC was reported to implicate in mood regulation in mood disorders, demonstrating significant coincidence between running-induced positive mood and l-DLPFC activation as we hypothesized 19 – 21 . The right DLPFC, which is involved in conflict resolution (faster reaction time after incongruent trials) and Stroop accuracy, was also showed significant activation 31 , 57 , 58 .…”

“…The right DLPFC, which is involved in conflict resolution (faster reaction time after incongruent trials) and Stroop accuracy, was also showed significant activation 31 , 57 , 58 . The right-VLPFC, which is associated with mood and emotion regulation, was observed to have significant activation coinciding with increased arousal and pleasure levels 19 – 21 , 59 . In addition, the FPA, a brain region which generally activates with the DLPFC to response to tasks involving manipulation and monitoring, such as planning for action, was observed to have significant both sides activation 60 .…”

“…To execute the appropriate movement, running requires neuronal top-down feedforward control responses to multi-modal sensory information to control coordinated movements and balance 13 – 15 . The prefrontal cortex, a brain region implicated in cognition and mood regulation, is partially involve in running, especially when there is demand for coordinated action 14 – 21 . Muscles throughout the body, in particular leg muscles, are recruited continuously to propel the body forward while supporting the body weight 22 .…”

Discovery and replication of cerebral blood flow differences in major depressive disorder

“…This could play an additional role in the inconsistent findings of the prefrontal regions. A recent study investigating CBF and glucose metabolism in MDD observed glucose metabolism to be more sensitive than CBF in identifying functional abnormalities in the frontal lobes [34]. Perfusion, neuronal activity, and metabolism of a given region may inform or influence each other.…”

Integration of the Cortical Haemodynamic Response Measured by Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Amino Acid Analysis to Aid in the Diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder

“…fNIRS and fMRI studies found that MDD patients in remission exhibited reduced cerebral responses and functional abnormalities specifically in the left PFC, suggesting that dysfunction in the frontal lobe may be a specific trait marker for depression [58,73]. Fu et al studied MDD patients using PET and reported diminished cerebral blood flow and glucose metabolism in the prefrontal lobes as well as attenuated glucose uptake in the frontal and temporal lobes [74,75]. Likewise, a singlephoton emission computerized tomography (SPECT) study found lower perfusion in the PFC in patients with depression and established an association between hypofrontality in the frontotemporal cortices and a poor response to treatment in patients with depression [76,77].…”