Assessment of neuroplasticity in late-life depression with transcranial magnetic stimulation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Studies using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a non-invasive method of brain stimulation, have implicated impaired neuroplasticity in the pathophysiology of depression in younger adults. The role of neuroplasticity in late-life depression (LLD) has not yet been explored using TMS.

Objective

This study aimed at evaluating motor cortical neuroplasticity using paired associative stimulation (PAS). Single-pulse TMS was used to induce motor-evoked potentials (MEP) in the contralateral hand muscle before and after PAS. The potentiation of MEP amplitudes after PAS was used as an indirect index of associative plasticity and long-term potentiation (LTP) (i.e. PAS-LTP).

Results

48 older adults with depression and 34 age-matched healthy controls (HC) were com

SUBMITTER: Bhandari A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6169797 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature