Brain and Biological Markers of Aging in Late-Life Mood Disorders: Implications for Understanding and Treating Geriatric Depression and Bipolar Disorder

With the graying of the world's population, there is a demographic imperative to understand how the aging process interacts with mood disorders in order to maximize functioning of older adults with depression and bipolar disorder. The study of brain and blood-based biological measures can enhance our knowledge of the unique factors that influence the late-life course if mood disorders and suggest novel intervention targets. The proposed session will present findings from state-of-the-art research studies on aging-related biomarkers in depression and bipolar disorder. Ajilore will speak about the interplay of inflammation, hippocampal volume, and white matter abnormalities in late-life depression. Eyler will present findings from an ongoing study of cognitive aging in bipolar disorder about the role of inflammation in clinical and cognitive symptoms of the disorder. Weisenbach's presentation will focus on alterations of intrinsic network function in late-life depression and how they relate to cognitive performance deficits. Finally, Forester will present initial results from an experimental trial of magnetic stimulation that aims to improve symptoms and change brain function in those with geriatric bipolar depression. Together, these findings contribute to our growing understanding of the importance of neural and biological mechanisms that underlie the disease and aging process in those with late-life mood disorders. The session will conclude with a discussion of how this work and related efforts in the field can make possible novel interventions that target biological and brain dysfunction in order to enhance functioning among older adults living with mood disorders.