Neuropsychological Differences Between Late-Onset and Recurrent Geriatric Major Depression

Abstract

In contrast to recurrent geriatric major depressive disorder, late-onset major depressive disorder is characterized by specific deficits in tasks of attention and executive function, consistent with increased anhedonia and cardiovascular comorbidity. These findings, if confirmed, suggest that recurrent and late-onset geriatric major depressive disorder may represent distinct phenomenological entities. Such phenomenological differences as a function of lifetime history of major depression can guide research in the neurophysiology, prevention, and treatment of geriatric major depressive disorder.