Neural Basis of the Association between Depressive Symptoms and Memory Deficits in Nondemented Subjects: Resting-State fMRI Study

Abstract

Depressive symptoms often coexist with memory deficits in older adults and also are associated with incident cognitive decline in the elderly. However, little is known about the neural correlates of the association between depressive symptoms and memory deficits in nondemented elderly. Fifteen amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and 20 cognitively normal (CN) subjects completed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (R-fMRI) scans. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to test the main effects of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test delayed recall (RAVLT-DR) scores, and their interaction on the intrinsic amygdala functional connectivity (AFC) network activity. Severer depressive symptoms and memory deficits were found in the aMCI group than in the CN group. Partial correlation analysis identified that the RAVLT-DR scores were significantly correlated with the AFC network in the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), dorsomedial and anterior prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), middle occipital gyrus, right inferior parietal cortex, and left middle temporal gyrus (MTG). The GDS scores were positively correlated with the AFC network in the bilateral PCC and MTG, and left DLPFC. The interactive effects of the GDS and RAVLT-DR scores on the AFC network were seen in the bilateral PCC, MTG, and left DLPFC. These findings not only supported that there were interactive neural links between depressive symptoms and memory functions in nondemented elderly at the system level, but also demonstrated that R-fMRI has advantages in investigating the interactive nature of different neural networks involved in complex functions, such as emotion and cognition.

Introduction

Several clinical and epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that depressive symptoms and memory deficits often coexist in late life (Alexopoulos 2003; Schweitzer, et al. 2002; Steffens, et al. 2006; Wilson, et al. 2002). It has been reported that depressive symptoms are highly prevalent in subjects with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and the presence of mood symptoms increases the risk of progression from aMCI to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (Apostolova and Cummings 2008; Lu, et al. 2009; Modrego and Ferrandez 2004; Rozzini, et al. 2008; Steffens, et al. 2006). Similarly, the presence of cognitive deficits in patients with late-life depression is associated with future incidence of AD (Alexopoulos, et al. 1993; Devanand, et al. 1996). The co-occurrence of depressive symptoms and memory deficits increases the risk of subsequent cognitive decline and incident AD in nondemented older adults. Recently, advances in the development and application of imaging approaches and network analyses have made it possible to investigate the underlying mechanisms of the complex relationship between depressive symptoms and memory deficits, and to study how these two behaviors are linked or interacting at the neural network level.

Previous studies have employed task-driven functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiments to investigate the functional localizations related to depression and cognition (Depue, et al. 2007; Elliott, et al. 2002; Koechlin and Hyafil 2007; MacDonald, et al. 2000; Siegle, et al. 2007). These studies have identified the task-dependent brain network activation, but provide limited information as to how these regions are functionally interconnected to one another (Dosenbach, et al. 2008). Recently, resting-state functional MRI (R-fMRI), as a novel technique, has been increasingly applied to study activity in the context of the neural networks, in healthy individuals, as well as patients (Biswal, et al. 1995; Etkin, et al. 2009; Fox and Raichle 2007; Greicius, et al. 2007; Harrison, et al. 2009; He, et al. 2007; Li, et al. 2002; Sheline, et al. 2009). Functional connectivity measures temporal correlations between the spontaneous blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signals in different brain regions, while subjects are at rest. Therefore, R-fMRI could provide new information into how structurally segregated and functionally specialized brain networks are interconnected with network analysis methods.

In general, conceptual perspectives of the relationships between anatomical sites, neural networks, and behaviors in studying cognition and emotion have been proposed (Pessoa 2008). Brain areas are connected to form networks and can be analyzed by graph theory (Bullmore and Sporns 2009). The main hypothesis of this model is that multiple neural network interactions underlie behaviors, and each behavior has both affective and cognitive components. In the present study, the R-fMRI method will be employed as a powerful approach to examine the possible neural substrates responsible for linking depressive symptoms and cognitive deficits in the nondemented elderly population.

Specifically, it has been demonstrated that the amygdala, as a neural hub, is central to the cognitive-emotional interactions, and is critical for regulating and integrating information between brain regions that are involved in memory and emotional processing, as extensively reviewed (Pessoa 2008; Phelps 2006). In addition, studies in patients with mild AD showed amygdala atrophy that is at least as severe as the volume loss in the hippocampus (Basso, et al. 2006a; Basso, et al. 2006b). Also, structural and functional abnormalities in the amygdala are seen in patients with major depression (Drevets 2003; Hamilton, et al. 2008; Peluso, et al. 2009; Siegle, et al. 2007) and aMCI (Luckhaus, et al. 2010; Qiu, et al. 2009; Rosenbaum, et al. 2010; Striepens, et al. 2010). Recent fMRI activation studies have demonstrated that depression is associated with sustained and enhanced amygdala activation to emotional task performance (Siegle, et al. 2007) and to unattended fear-related stimuli (Fales, et al. 2008). These studies strongly support our justification to use the amygdala as a seed region in this R-fMRI study. We hypothesized that investigation of the brain network activity centered on the amygdala would provide a better understanding of the relationship between depressive symptoms and memory deficits.

The specific objectives of this study, therefore, were to identify the neural substrates that link depressive symptoms and memory impairment on the intrinsic amygdala functional connectivity (AFC) network by using the R-fMRI approach, and enrolling nondemented elderly study subjects with aMCI, in addition to cognitively normal (CN) subjects.

Methods and Materials

Participants

Sixteen aMCI and 20 age-matched CN subjects were recruited through the Medical College of Wisconsin Memory Disorders Clinic and local advertising. Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects, and study protocols were approved in accordance with the Medical College of Wisconsin Institutional Review Board. One aMCI subject was excluded from the analysis because of excessive motion artifact (i.e. exceeding more than 1-mm translational movement or more than 1° rotational movement).

All aMCI and CN subjects were in good general health with adequate visual and auditory acuity to allow cognitive testing, and had a reliable informant. All subjects underwent a battery of neuropsychological tests. aMCI study subjects were diagnosed according to the Petersen criteria (Petersen 2004), as described previously (Xu, et al. 2007). CN study subjects were required to have a Clinical Dementia Rating global score of 0, a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score 24 and a Yesavage 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) score of < 10. Exclusion criteria were: history of neurological and psychiatric disease, seizures, head injury, stroke or transient ischemic attack; drug or alcohol abuse; major psychiatric diagnoses, including schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.

All study subjects underwent a physical examination, according to their medical records. In addition, they had a complete neurological examination, which was performed by two neurologists with expertise in dementia, and consensus diagnoses were reached. In the aMCI group, four study subjects had a GDS score >10. These subjects did not endorse a history of a clinical diagnosis of depression or treatment prior to the aMCI diagnosis. We performed the Grubbs test (Grubbs 1969) to determine that the four aMCI subjects who had GDS scores greater than 10 were not outliers, and included them in the final analyses. Additionally, one aMCI subject with a normal GDS score was taking bupropion and donepezil, but no medicine was administered 48 hours prior to the scan.

MRI Acquisition

Imaging was performed using a whole-body 3T Signa GE scanner (Waukesha, Wisconsin) with a standard transmits-receive head coil. During the resting-state acquisitions, no specific cognitive tasks were performed and the study participants were instructed to close their eyes, and relax, and the ears were occluded. Sagittal R-fMRI datasets of the whole brain were obtained in six minutes with a single-shot gradient echo-echo planar imaging (EPI) pulse sequence. The R-fMRI imaging parameters were: TE of 25 ms, TR of 2 s, flip angle of 90°; 36 slices were obtained; slice thickness was 4 mm with a matrix size of 64×64 and field of view of 24×24 cm. High-resolution spoiled gradient-recalled echo (SPGR) 3D axial images were acquired for anatomical reference. The parameters were: TE/TR/TI of 4/10/450 ms, flip angle of 12°, number of slices of 144, slice thickness of 1 mm, matrix size of 256×192.

Data Analysis

Data Preprocessing

R-fMRI data analysis was carried out by using AFNI software (http://afni.nimh.nih.gov/afni) and MATLAB programs (The MathWorks, Inc., Natick, Massachusetts), as summarized in Figure 1. In brief, motion correction was performed by volume registration on the resting-state fMRI data (3dvolreg); then, detrending was carried out to remove Legendre polynomials (3dDetrend). Possible contamination from the signals in white matter, cerebrospinal fluid, the six-motion vectors, physical noise (cardiac and respiratory signal) and global signal were regressed out from each voxel time series. A band-pass filter was applied to keep only low-frequency fluctuations within the frequency range of 0.015 Hz and 0.1.

Figure 1. Overview of Data Process.

Left: Data acquisition and preprocessing to obtain individual AFC network map. Right: statistical analysis for group-level comparisons and linear regression analysis. CN, cognitively normal; aMCI, amnestic mild cognitive impairment; SPGR, spoiled gradient-recalled echo sequence; fMRI: functional magnetic resonance imaging; AFC, amygdala functional connectivity; GDS: geriatric depression scale; RAVLT-DR: Rey auditory verbal learning test delayed recall.

Manually Traced Amygdala Mask as a Seed Region in the R-fMRI Study

The left and right amygdala masks were manually traced on T1-weighted 3D SPGR images, according to literature (Honeycutt, et al. 1998; Roy, et al. 2009). The most posterior boundary of the amygdala adjoins the anterior alveus of the hippocampus and the temporal horn of the lateral ventricle in the sagittal plane. The anterior boundary follows the natural boundaries of the gray matter in the anterior direction in the axial plane. The superior and inferior boundaries were coronally defined as the ventral horn of the subarachnoid space and the most dorsal finger of the white-matter tract under the horn of the subarachnoid space, respectively. The lateral and the mesial boundaries were coronally defined at 2 mm from the surrounding white matter, and from the subarachnoid space, respectively. Operationally, a mouse-controlled cursor traced relevant coronal, sagittal, and axial slices. Boundaries were displayed in real time on these orthogonal MRI slices with AFNI software.

Participant-level Analysis for the AFC Network Pattern

The traced amygadala masks from high-resolution SPGR images were coregistered to EPI images. Because the spatial resolutions in SPGR (1.0-mm) and EPI images (3.75 mm) were different, only those voxels in EPI images that contained at least 70% of amygdala voxels masked on the 3D SPGR images were included in the voxel time course analysis (Xu, et al. 2008). These voxel time courses within the amygdala masks were averaged as the seed time course. Then, the seed time course was correlated to the time courses of the whole-brain voxels using the Pearson cross-correlation. The Pearson correlation coefficients (r) were subjected to a Fisher Transform Analysis, which yielded variants of approximately normal distribution [m = 0.5 ln(1+r)/(1−r)](Zar 1996). These voxelwise m values were spatially transformed to the Talairach template coordinates (adwarp), resampled to 2-mm isotropic voxels, and smoothed with a Gaussian kernel (6-mm Full Width Half Maximum) using AFNI software (3dmerge), obtaining an AFC map for each individual.

Group-Level Analysis for the AFC Network Pattern

Individual AFC maps were grouped together for the CN and aMCI groups, respectively. The AFC map for each group was generated by applying a voxelwise t-test within a group of subjects against a null hypothesis of no connectivity (corrected for multiple comparison with AlphaSim, P<0.01, cluster size of 1,072 mm³). For obtaining the difference in connectivity strength between the aMCI group and the CN group in the AFC maps, a two-sample t-test was used (P < 0.05, cluster size > 312 mm³, false discover rate (FDR) corrected). All the results were projected on the surface brain template (Van Essen 2005).

Correlation of Behavioral Scores with the AFC Network Activity

To investigate the neural substrates underlying the functions of the GDS and RAVLT delayed recall (RAVLT-DR) scores on the AFC network, a multivariate linear regression analysis was employed (3dRegAna, AFNI) as below:

$${\text{m}}_{\text{i}}={\beta }_0+{{\beta }_1}^{\ast }\text{GDS}+{{\beta }_2}^{\ast }\text{RAVLT}+{{\beta }_3}^{\ast }{\text{GDS}}^{\ast }\text{RAVLT}+{{\beta }_4}^{\ast }\text{Group}+{{\beta }_5}^{\ast }\text{Age}$$ [1]

Where m_i is the m value of ith voxel across group subjects, β₀ is the intercept of straight line fitting in the model. β₁, β₂, and β₃ are the effects of GDS scores, RAVLT-DR scores, and their interaction on the functional connectivity strength of ith voxel within AFC network, respectively. β₄ and β₅ are the effects of group subjects and ages in the CN and aMCI groups, as covariance in the above linear regression model. The voxelwise multivariate linear regression map was generated after multiple comparison analysis (AlphaSim, AFNI, α = 0.05, P<0.05 and cluster size > 4,048 mm³) to identify the correlation maps of RAVLT and GDS scores, as well as their interactions.

Results

Subject Characterization and Behavioral Performance

Fifteen aMCI study subjects (77.9 ± 6.0 years of age, including six females) and 20 CN (75.0 ± 6.2 years of age, including 9 females) were included in the final data analysis. Demographic information and clinical evaluations are shown in Table I. No significant differences in age or gender were noted between aMCI and CN groups. In the aMCI group, RAVLT-DR scores were significantly lower (F(1,33) = 15.372, P < 0.001), and GDS scores were significantly higher (F(1,33) = 7.343, P < 0.01), relative to the CN group. In addition, GDS scores were inversely correlated with RAVLT-DR scores (r = −0.37, P < 0.028), as shown in Table I and Figure 2.

TABLE I.

Demographics and clinical characteristics of aMCI and CN subjects.

Characteristic	aMCI (n = 15)		CN (n = 20)		p value
	M	SD	M	SD
Gender(female/male)	6/9		9/11		NS†
Age, years	77.9	5.9	75.0	6.2	NS
Education, years	14.0	2.3	14.8	2.6	NS
MMSE	27.7	1.8	29.5	0.8	< 0.002*
RAVLT delayed recall	6.8	3.6	11.2	3.4	< 0.0001*
GDS	7.0	6.3	2.7	2.8	<0.01*

^*P value was obtained by χ² two-tailed test;

^**P values were obtained by a two-sample two-tailed t test. Unless otherwise indicated, data are presented as mean ± SD.

Significant differences were found in MMSE, RAVLT delayed recall, and GDS scores between the aMCI and CN groups. Abbreviation: aMCI, amnesic mild cognitive impairment; CN, cognitively normal; M, mean; SD, Standard Deviation; MMSE, Mini-Mental State Examination; RAVLT, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test; GDS, Geriatric Depression Scale; NS, no significance.

Figure 2. Inverse Correlation between Depressive Symptoms and Memory Deficits.

The results illustrated that RAVLT-DR scores were significantly lower (F(1,33) = 15.372, p < 0.001), GDS scores were significantly higher (F(1,33) = 7.343, p < 0.01) in the aMCI group compared to the CN group. In addition, GDS scores were inversely correlated with RAVLT-DR scores (r = −0.37, p < 0.028). Red color for the RAVLT-DR scores, blue color for the GDS scores, error bar is presented with standard error.

Altered Intrinsic AFC Network Connectivity in the aMCI Subjects

The resting-state intrinsic AFC network pattern in the CN and aMCI groups included the frontal, parietal, temporal lobes and subcortical regions, as shown in Figures 3A and 3B. In a two-group comparison, altered resting-state intrinsic AFC network connectivity was observed in the aMCI group compared to the CN group, as shown in Figure 3C. Brain regions in the AFC network were projected on the surface brain template. Regions with significantly enhanced connectivity in the AFC network included the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), superior marginal gyrus (SMG)/inferior parietal cortex (IPC), left insula and precuneus, while significantly decreased connectivity in the AFC network was seen in left IFG, inferior temporal cortex (ITC), cuneus, and medial prefrontal gyrus (MeFG). Table II lists the size, location, and the highest z-scores of each cluster with differential connectivity between aMCI and CN groups.

Figure 3. Resting-state Amygdala Connectivity Network Pattern for A) CN Group, B) aMCI Group, and C) Differential Amygdala Connectivity between These Two Groups.

Results are projected on a surface template (Caret software; Van Essen, 2005). A) The amygdala connectivity in the CN group was primarily in the bilateral medial temporal lobule, right insula, parietal lobule and middle occipital gyrus; B) The amygdala connectivity in the aMCI group was primarily in the bilateral medial temporal lobule, parietal lobule, occipital lobule, frontal cortex and subcortical regions (both, corrected with AlphaSim, P < 0.01). Bright color indicates positive correlation and blue color indicates negative correlation; C) The altered amygdala connectivity was primarily bilateral frontal-parietal-occipital system, as well as left insula and inferior temporal cortex in the aMCI group compared to the CN group. Bright color indicates increased connectivity and blue color indicates decreased connectivity. Color bar is presented with z score.

TABLE II.

Clusters with altered amygdala functional connectivity in the aMCI group compared to the CN group.

Brain Region	Side	BA	Cluster Size (mm3)	Talairach coordinates (LPI)			Z score
				x	y	z
Decreased AFC network
Inferior temporal cirtex	L	37	2032	−58	−54	−6	−3.2
Cuneus	L	18	1528	−25	−96	−5	−3.1
Inferior frontal gyrus	L	47	880	−39	39	0	−2.9
Medial prefrontal gyrus	L	6	456	−5	35	36	−2.5
Increased AFC network
Inferior frontal gyrus	R	44	1072	51	11	22	2.8
Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex	R	9	440	31	32	36	2.4
Superior marginal gyrus/Inferior parietal cortex	R	40	312	57	−41	30	2.5
Precuneus	L	7	312	−17	−67	43	2.8
Insula	L	13	312	−29	15	10	2.5

x,y,z coordinates of primary peak locations in the Talairach space. Abbreviation: BA, Brodmann’s area; R, right. L, left.

The Effects of RAVLT-DR and GDS Scores on the AFC Network

Voxelwise multivariate regression analysis identified the main effect of RAVLT-DR and GDS scores and their interactions on the AFC network activity. The main effect of the RAVLT-DR scores on the AFC network activity was seen in regions that included the bilateral DLPFC, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC), anterior prefrontal cortex (aPFC), PCC, and middle occipital gyrus (MOG), right IPC, and left MTG, as shown in Figure 4 and Table III; the main effect of GDS scores on the AFC network activity was in the regions of the bilateral PCC and MTG, and left DLPFC, as shown in Figure 5 and Table III. The interactive effects of the RAVLT-DR and GDS scores on the AFC network activity were seen in the bilateral PCC and MTG, and left DLPFC, as described in Figure 6 and Table III.

Figure 4. Whole-Brain Analyses Reveal the Effects of Memory Performance on the Amygdala Connectivity Network.

Whole-brain, partial-correlation analyses were conducted between the AFC network strength and RAVLT-DR scores after controlling the GDS scores, RAVLT-DR and GDS score interaction, age and group factors as covariances of no interest. Results are projected on a surface template and illustrate that the RAVLT-DR scores are positively correlated with the strength of the distinct region of the AFC network, except for the right DLPFC and IPC. Bright color indicates positive correlation and blue color indicates negative correlation. Color bar was presented with z score. Abbreviations: L DLPFC, left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; L MTG, left middle temporal gyrus; L PCC, left posterior cingulate cortex; L DMPFC, left dorsomedial prefrontal cortex; L MOG, left middle occipital gyrus; aPFC, anterior prefrontal cortex; R DMPFC, right dorsomedial prefrontal cortex; R PCC, right posterior cingulate cortex; R MOG, right middle occipital gyrus; R DLPFC, right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, R IPC, right inferior parietal cortex.

TABLE III.

Neural basis of the RAVLT-DR scores, GDS scores and their interaction on the amygdala functional connectivity network.

Brain Region	Side	BA	Cluster Size (mm3)	Talairach coordinates (LPI)			Z score
				x	y	z
RAVLT-DR Scores
PCC	L	31	36296	−13	−51	22	4.5
PCC	R	30		10	−51	19	2.4
MOG	R	18		4	−76	6	4.3
MOG	L	18		−8	−74	6	3.7
MTG	L	39	4584	−50	−58	13	3.2
DLPFC	R	9	27160	61	13	34	−4.2
IPC	R	40		55	−47	40	−3.2
DMPFC	L	6	21584	−11	23	58	4.0
DLPFC	L	9		−45	7	34	3.9
DMPFC	R	8		9	49	34	2.8
aPFC	L	10		−1	58	2	2.3
aPFC	R	10		1	58	2	2.4
GDS Scores
MTG	R	22	12584	42	−54	18	2.0
PCC	R	31		6	−55	29	1.8
PCC	L	31		−6	−45	30	1.6
MTG	L	22	7912	−39	−57	14	2.1
DLPFC	L	9	4072	−27	21	36	3.1
RAVLT-DR and GDS Scores Interaction
DLPFC	L	9	4824	−31	23	33	−3.5
MTG	L	19	9336	−39	−59	16	−4.1
MTG	R	22	8536	48	−33	0	−3.4
PCC	R	31	4280	11	−47	28	−3.1
PCC	L	31		−7	−47	29	−2.7

x,y,z coordinates of primary peak locations in the Talairach space. Abbreviation: BA, Brodmann’s area; R, right. L, left; PCC, posterior cingulate cortex; MOG, middle occipital gyrus; MTG, middle temporal gyrus; DLPFC, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; IPC, inferior parietal cortex; DMPFC, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex; aPFC, anterior prefrontal cortex.

Figure 5. Whole-Brain Analyses Reveal the Effects of Depressive Symptoms on the Amygdala Connectivity Network.

Whole-brain, partial correlation analyses were conducted between the AFC network strength and GDS scores after controlling the RAVLT-DR scores, RAVLT-DR and GDS score interaction, age and group factors as covariances of no interest. Results are projected on a surface template. They illustrate that the GDS scores are positively correlated with the strength of the distinct region of the AFC network. Bright color indicates positive correlation. Color bar was presented with z score. Abbreviations: L DLPFC, left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; L MTG, left middle temporal gyrus; R MTG, right middle temporal gyrus; L PCC, left posterior cingulate cortex; R PCC, right posterior cingulate cortex.

Figure 6. Interaction of Memory Deficits and Depressive Symptoms on the Amygdala Connectivity Network.

The results show that interactive regions of depressive symptoms and memory deficits on the AFC network include the bilateral PCC, MTG, and left DLPFC. Color bar is presented with z scores. Abbreviations: L DLPFC, left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; L MTG, left middle temporal gyrus; R MTG, right middle temporal gyrus; L PCC, left posterior cingulate cortex; R PCC, right posterior cingulate cortex.

The aMCI and control groups demonstrated no significant volume difference in the area of the amygdala. Also, there was no correlation between the AFC network strength and the amygdala volume across all subjects (P> 0.64). In addition, a 48-h interval may not be sufficient time for buproprion and donepezil to be “washed out.” We reanalyzed the entire dataset without the aMCI subject who was taking buproprion and donepezil; results did not significantly differ.

Discussion

Intrinsic AFC Network Differences between the aMCI and CN Subjects

It is well established that the relationships between the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex and parietal cortex are functionally involved in decision making, emotion, and memory processing (Andersen and Cui 2009; Etkin, et al. 2009; Spielberg, et al. 2008). A meta-analysis has demonstrated that the amygdala is a critical node in the multiple neural networks involved in emotional-cognitive integration among nonhuman and human primates (Robinson, et al. 2010). Previous anatomical studies in nonhuman primates have demonstrated that a wide range of cortical regions, including the medial frontal gyrus, IFG, insula, temporal lobe and subcortical regions (e.g. caudate) have reciprocal connections with the amygdala (Etkin, et al. 2009; Kita and Kitai 1990; Mufson, et al. 1981; Packard, et al. 1994). A recent R-fMRI study among healthy adults showed delineation of the amygdala functional connectivity pattern with brain regions located in the frontal-parietal system, limbic system and subcortical region (Roy, et al. 2009). In the present R-fMRI study, the data regarding the brain regions involved in the amygdala network in CN subjects are consistent with previous findings. Our new findings in the current study are that the AFC network connectivity is significantly altered in the frontal, occipital, and temporal lobes in aMCI subjects. It is known that the connectivity between amygdala-MeFG and amygdala-IFG regions in normal subjects is balanced to reflect the emotional regulation through cognitive control (Etkin, et al. 2009). The abnormal connectivity in these regions among aMCI participants may result in reduced cognitive and emotional performance. In the present study, we also found decreased connectivity of the amygdala in the occipital and temporal lobe. Such disrupted connectivity in the aMCI subjects could alter the semantic-memory network, as recently described (Binder, et al. 2009; Etkin, et al. 2009).

Although the present study involved no explicit tasks or stimuli, the altered connectivity in the intrinsic AFC network in the aMCI subjects may reflect the affective elaboration on persistent sad feelings or negative topics. This notion is consistent with previous findings demonstrating that emotional stimuli alter amygdala activity (Fales, et al. 2008; Siegle, et al. 2002; Siegle, et al. 2007).

Relationship of the AFC Network Activity and Memory Deficits

A factorial analysis was performed with the RAVLT-DR scores. Figure 4 shows that the strength of the intrinsic AFC network was positively correlated with memory performance in critical brain regions, which include the frontal-parietal system (bilateral aPFC, left DLPFC), midline core structures (PCC, DMPFC) in the default mode network (Buckner, et al. 2008; Gusnard and Raichle 2001), and the temporal-occipital system (MTG, MOG) (Buckner, et al. 2009; Hagmann, et al. 2008; Tambini, et al. 2010); while negatively correlated regions were found in the right DLPFC and IPC. These regions, which are considered hubs, are shown to have widespread brain connections and are essential for diverse informational processing, which are especially needed for emotional and memory formation. More importantly, these regions within the AFC network are also primary sites affected the earliest by β-Amyloid proteins accumulation (Buckner, et al. 2009; Jack, et al. 2008; Small, et al. 2006). Moreover, the medial temporal lobe structures, including the amygdala, are more susceptible to the neurotoxic effects of the amyloid (Frisoni, et al. 2009). Taken together, these findings reveal a functional specialization within the amygdala network for memory performance, and suggest that the amygdala network is crucial for memory processing. Therefore, it is plausible that the distinctive change in the AFC network observed in this study is related to memory deficits.

Relationship of AFC Network Activity and Depressive Symptoms

A factorial analysis was also performed with GDS scores. Figure 5 shows that the AFC strength was correlated with GDS scores in cortical structures, including the bilateral PCC and MTG, and left DLPFC. These results are consistent with previous studies (Greicius, et al. 2007; Kenny, et al. 2010; Sheline, et al. 2010; Siegle, et al. 2007; Stein, et al. 2007a; Wang, et al. 2008; Zhou, et al. 2010). For example, task-dependent fMRI studies in depressed patients have shown a reciprocal relationship between decreased activation in the dorsal and ventral parts of the DLPFC and dorsal ACC regions, and increased activation in the limbic/paralimbic areas, which include the amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, and the basal ganglia (Sheline, et al. 2010; Siegle, et al. 2007; Stein, et al. 2007b; Wang, et al. 2008). Strong amygdala network connectivity related to the DLPFC, IPC, fusiform gyrus, insula and thalamus has been reported previously (Etkin, et al. 2009; Roy, et al. 2009). Furthermore, elevated cerebral glucose metabolism is seen in geriatric depression, specifically in the frontal and temporal lobe structures, and the posterior cortical structures, which include the precuneus and IPC. Similar to our findings, the cortical hypermetabolism was positively correlated to depressive symptom severity (Smith, et al. 2009a). These studies suggest that the AFC network plays an important role in emotional processing, especially in the presence of depressive symptoms.

Neural Basis of the Interactive Effects of Depressive Symptoms and Memory Deficits on the AFC Network

In this study, the dual functions of the amygdala network are involved in memory deficits and depressive symptoms, thereby strongly supporting a recent conceptual hypothesis that complex cognitive and emotional behaviors have their neural bases in the dynamic coalition of networks with distributed brain regions (Pessoa 2008). Furthermore, their interactive neural substrates provide insight into the neurophysiological nature of the link between depressive symptoms and memory deficits. These results suggest that depressive symptoms and memory function are interactive, and mediated by altering the functional connectivity among amygdala links with bilateral PCC and MTG, and left DLPFC (Baxter, et al. 2008).

It is important to note that these interactive regions are reported to be involved in the earliest AD neuropathology (Buckner, et al. 2009; Jack, et al. 2008; Small, et al. 2006). It is conceivable that AFC network alterations may be associated with the amyloid plaques deposition. Through the amygdala network interaction, the emergence of depressive symptoms and memory deficits in aMCI subjects could occur. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that the amygdala network (especially the connections among the amygdala and the bilateral PCC and MTG, and the left DLPFC) links the emotional state (depressive symptoms) and cognitive dysfunction (memory deficits) in nondemented elderly subjects.

In addition, previous neuroimaging studies have shown increased brain activation in aMCI independent of depression (Bokde, et al. 2010; Bookheimer, et al. 2000; Grady, et al. 2003; Ries, et al. 2006; Stark and Squire 2001). It is not clear if the altered connectivity is related to memory deficits or depressive symptoms. With the conjunction analysis we have identified the factor effect maps for memory function (Figure 4) and depressive symptoms (Figure 5). It is found that there were overlapping regions between Figure 3C and Figure 4 in the right DLPFC, IPC and IFG. The overlapping areas suggest that the increased amygdala connectivity within these regions in MCI subjects were associated with memory deficits independent of depression. Similarly, the overlapping region between Figure 3C and Figure 5 occurred in the left MTG, suggesting that the decreased amygdala connectivity with the left MTG was associated with depressive symptoms independent of memory deficits. There were no overlapping regions between Figure 3C and Figure 6, suggesting that the interactive regions between factors of memory function and depressive symptoms did not have significant changes in amygdala connectivity. These findings suggest that the AFC differences in these regions are implicated in the process of memory, depressive symptoms, or their interaction, respectively.

The Relationship between Task-Driven FMRI and Resting-State FMRI

It would be useful to discuss what we know about the relationship between the two modalities and their potential impact on the interpretation of the results of this study. In general, while the neurophysiology underlying the connectivity patterns in “resting-state” low-frequency oscillations remains to be elucidated, these connectivity patterns measured by R-fMRI are posited to reflect intrinsic representations of functional systems commonly implicated in task-driven fMRI studies. For example, resting correlations between brain regions have been found to replicate the similar networks typically found in task-activation studies (Fair, et al. 2007). Recently, it was demonstrated that the full repertoire of functional networks utilized by the brain in action is continuously and dynamically “active” even when at “rest.” (Smith, et al. 2009b). With R-fMRI, a remarkable degree of information can be gleaned about the complex orchestration of brain activity across a broad array of cognitive activities, and neurological and psychiatric disorders (Fox and Greicius 2010; Rosen and Napadow 2011). Nevertheless, the direct relationship between resting-state functional connectivity and the BOLD response induced by task performance remains unclear. Our early study demonstrated that acute drug administration altered functional connectivity (Li, et al. 2000), and cognitive tasks regulated the synchrony of the low-frequency oscillations in memory networks (Xu, et al. 2006). Recent studies show that interindividual differences in resting-state functional connectivity predict task-induced BOLD activity (Mennes, et al. 2010), and the resting-state fluctuation of amplitude can be employed to scale hemodynamic responses during task performance (Kannurpatti, et al. 2010).

Specifically, previous studies using task-dependent fMRI have shown that amygdala activity increases when depressed study participants respond to emotional tasks and DLPFC reactivity decreases in response to cognitive tasks (Siegle, et al. 2007), suggesting an inverse functional relationship between the amygdala and DLPFC structures. It is not known, however, how the emotional task-driven increased amygdala activity is associated with cognitive tasks, or the manner in which the cognitive task-driven decreased DLPFC activity is associated with emotional tasks. By using the network connectivity approach, as demonstrated in this R-fMRI study, the depressive symptoms and memory function were interactive to have an inverse effect on the neural links.

Our preliminary study is not without limitations. First, brain activity during the data acquisition is not controlled by a task or consistent behavioral state across subjects, as extensively reviewed (Fox and Raichle 2007). Future studies may address and determine to what extent variations of measurements should be used. In addition, given the complex nature of co-occurring depressive symptoms and memory impairment, the clinical diagnostic process should consider that depressive symptoms in patients with aMCI may be different from those in depressed patients without aMCI. Similarly, memory deficits in aMCI patients with geriatric depression may be different from those without depressive symptoms. As suggested, future studies should assess depression in the context of cognitive impairment, and cognitive impairment in the context of depression. Finally, large-scale network analysis methods that use large study subject populations should be used instead of small sample size populations that focus on the AFC network.

Conclusion

In summary, using network-based resting-state functional connectivity analysis, we were able to demonstrate an altered intrinsic AFC network in the aMCI subjects, and distinct subcomponents of the amygdala network were found to be associated with depressive symptoms and memory impairment in nondemented elderly subjects. The functional connectivity of the amygdala-bilateral PCC, MTG, and left DLPFC regions was involved in the interaction between mood symptoms and memory performance. Neural network analysis provides new insight for investigating the complex association that links depressive symptoms and subsequent cognitive decline in older adults.