Duke Conte Center for the Neuroscience of Depression in Late Life

Three shared resources, administrative, research and assessment and data management/statistics are proposed to facilitate the conduct of these projects and to ensure integration at the conceptual, analytical and resource availability level, and flow to the various projects. Findings from the center should greatly enhance our understanding of the biology of depressive disorders and help improve the treatment of these disorders. In addition, the technological innovations developed in the context of this project are likely to be of major importance and relevant to other studies of brain function.

Inclusion criteria

For depressed group:

• Age > 60 years
• Major depression, single episode or recurrent
• Ability to read and write English
• MMSE >25
• Willingness to participate in the follow-up study for at least two years.

For non-depressed group:

• Age > 60 years
• Ability to read and write English
• MMSE >25
• Willingness to participate in the follow-up study for at least two years

Exclusion criteria

• Lifetime alcohol or drug dependence
• Conditions associated with MRI abnormalities such hydrocephalus, benign and cancerous brain tumors, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, dementia, demyelinating diseases, etc.
• Endocrine disorder (other than diabetes mellitus)
• Any physical or intellectual disability that may affect completion of self rating instruments
• Established clinical diagnosis of dementia
• Other primary psychiatric disorders, including panic disorder, social phobia, OCD, non-affective psychosis (including schizo-affective disorder), schizophrenia, bipolar disorder
• Any metal or pacemaker in the body which precludes MRI.