Altered cerebral energy utilization in late life depression

Background: Global and regional changes in cerebral energy utilization are reported to characterize late life depression. Methods: Twenty seven subjects with late life depression (9 prior to starting medication, 18 after starting) and 27 matched controls were evaluated with cordance, a quantitative EEG measure that reflects cerebral energy utilization. Results: Global and focal (anterior and centrotemporal) differences were present in theta-band cordance between unmedicated depressed and control subjects. Depressed subjects receiving treatment had cordance patterns similar to controls. Conclusions: The presence of both diffuse and focal disturbances in energy utilization prior to initiating treatment indicates that cordance detects altered cerebral physiology in depressed patients, and that this measure may also be sensitive to treatment interventions. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.