Emotional Cognition: Establishing Constructs and Neural-Behavioral Mechanisms in Older Adults with Depression

Description

This is a cross-sectional pilot study designed to establish hot and cold cognitive functions and underlying neurocircuitry in older adults with MDD. The investigators will study 120 participants aged 21-80 years old with MDD. All participants will undergo clinical and neurocognitive assessment, and Magnetoencephalography (MEG)/Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures at one time point. The investigators will also enroll 120 demographically matched comparable, never-depressed healthy participants (controls) to establish cognitive benchmarks. Healthy controls will complete clinical and neurocognitive measures at one time point. To attain a balanced sample of adults across the lifespan, the investigators will enroll participants such that each age epoch (e.g., 21-30, 31-40, etc.) has a total of ten subjects (n=10) in both the healthy control cohort and depressed cohort.

Conditions

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Healthy Adult Volunteer

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

This is a cross-sectional pilot study designed to establish hot and cold cognitive functions and underlying neurocircuitry in older adults with MDD. The investigators will study 120 participants aged 21-80 years old with MDD. All participants will undergo clinical and neurocognitive assessment, and Magnetoencephalography (MEG)/Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures at one time point. The investigators will also enroll 120 demographically matched comparable, never-depressed healthy participants (controls) to establish cognitive benchmarks. Healthy controls will complete clinical and neurocognitive measures at one time point. To attain a balanced sample of adults across the lifespan, the investigators will enroll participants such that each age epoch (e.g., 21-30, 31-40, etc.) has a total of ten subjects (n=10) in both the healthy control cohort and depressed cohort.

Emotional Cognition: Establishing Constructs and Neural-Behavioral Mechanisms in Older Adults with Depression (ENSURE; R21 MH130870)

Emotional Cognition: Establishing Constructs and Neural-Behavioral Mechanisms in Older Adults with Depression

Condition
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Arlington

University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, Texas, United States, 76010

Dallas

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States, 75390-9127

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • 1. Male and female participants
  • 2. Age between 21-80 years old
  • 3. DSM-5 diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) based on Mini Neuropsychiatric Interview
  • 4. Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Clinician Rated version (IDS-C) total score \> 14
  • 5. Able to read, write, and comprehend English
  • 6. Provide informed consent; willing to comply with study protocol
  • 1. History of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder
  • 2. Presence of psychotic features
  • 3. Lifetime central nervous system (CNS) disease (including head injury with loss of consciousness \> 5 minutes)
  • 4. History of neurodevelopmental disorder (e.g., Autism spectrum disorder)
  • 5. History of medical conditions that can affect neurocognitive function as well as be confounded with age (e.g., thyroid disease, endocrine illnesses)
  • 6. Women who are pregnant
  • 7. Current use of medications with known impacts on neurocognitive function (e.g., acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, amphetamine, methylphenidate, vortioxetine, sedatives)
  • 8. Alcohol/substance use disorder within past 3 months
  • 9. DSM-5 diagnosis of major cognitive impairment
  • 10. Current sensory or physical impairment that interferes with testing.
  • 11. Contraindication to MRI and MEG (only for depressed participants) (e.g., any electronic / metallic implants near or within the head or body, claustrophobia)

Ages Eligible for Study

21 Years to 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center,

Study Record Dates

2025-12