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Study suggests neural differences may affect attention in MDD

Recent findings showed altered norepinephrine transmission among individuals with major depressive disorder, suggesting the alteration could be associated with attention in this disorder.

“The norepinephrine transporter has been suggested to play a crucial role in major depressive disorder. However, norepinephrine transporter availability in major depressive disorder and its role with clinical symptoms are not known,” Sho Moriguchi, MD, of the National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan, and colleagues wrote.

To assess associations between norepinephrine transporter availability and clinical symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD), researchers conducted a cross-sectional study among 19 individuals with MDD and 19 age- and sex-matched healthy comparison participants. PET scans evaluated norepinephrine transporter availability measured by the radioligand (S,S)-[¹⁸F]FMeNER-D₂.

Participants with MDD exhibited 29% higher nondisplaceable binding potential values in the thalamus and 28.2% higher values in the thalamic subregion connected to the prefrontal cortex, compared with healthy participants.

Increased norepinephrine transporter availability in the thalamus positively correlated with attention among individuals with MDD.

“These findings implicate the potentially beneficial selection of antidepressants with affinity to the norepinephrine transporter in the treatment of major depressive disorder,” the researchers concluded. – by Amanda Oldt

Disclosure: Moriguchi reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all authors’ relevant financial disclosures.