Hippocampal atrophy in recurrent major depression: A study of older women with recurrent major depression found that those with a history of major depressive episodes had significantly smaller left and right hippocampal volumes compared to matched normal controls, with no differences in total cerebral volume. The degree of hippocampal volume reduction correlated with the total duration of major depression. Additionally, large hippocampal low signal foci (LSF) were found, and their number correlated with the total number of days depressed. These findings suggest that depression is associated with hippocampal atrophy, possibly due to a progressive process mediated by glucocorticoid neurotoxicity. The study used high-resolution MRI and stereological measurement to evaluate hippocampal volume in older women with recurrent major depression. Subjects were selected to exclude medical disorders other than depression. The study found that hippocampal volume loss related to depression was age- and duration-dependent. Cortisol levels were measured, and MRI scans were performed to assess brain structure. The results indicated that hippocampal atrophy is associated with recurrent major depression, and that this atrophy may be due to chronic glucocorticoid exposure or stress. The study also found that hippocampal low signal foci were present in the hippocampus, and their number correlated with the total number of days depressed. The study supports the hypothesis that depression is associated with hippocampal atrophy, possibly due to neurotoxic damage from glucocorticoids. The study also found that hippocampal atrophy was not due to overall brain atrophy, as total cerebral volumes did not differ between the groups. The study's findings suggest that depression is associated with structural changes in the hippocampus, possibly reflecting neuronal loss. These changes may contribute to the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis abnormalities seen in depression. The study also found that hippocampal atrophy was not due to acute effects of corticosteroids, but rather a cumulative effect of depression history. The study's results suggest that recurrent depression may lead to hippocampal neuronal loss, possibly through the mechanism of glucocorticoid-induced neurotoxicity. The study also found that the number of large hippocampal low signal foci correlated with the total number of days depressed. The study's findings support the hypothesis that depression is associated with hippocampal atrophy, and that this atrophy may be due to neurotoxic damage from glucocorticoids. The study also found that hippocampal atrophy was not due to overall brain atrophy, as total cerebral volumes did not differ between the groups. The study's results suggest that depression is associated with structural changes in the hippocampus, possibly reflecting neuronal loss. These changes may contribute to the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis abnormalities seen in depression. The study also found that hippocampal atrophy was not due to acute effects of corticosteroids, but rather a cumulative effectHippocampal atrophy in recurrent major depression: A study of older women with recurrent major depression found that those with a history of major depressive episodes had significantly smaller left and right hippocampal volumes compared to matched normal controls, with no differences in total cerebral volume. The degree of hippocampal volume reduction correlated with the total duration of major depression. Additionally, large hippocampal low signal foci (LSF) were found, and their number correlated with the total number of days depressed. These findings suggest that depression is associated with hippocampal atrophy, possibly due to a progressive process mediated by glucocorticoid neurotoxicity. The study used high-resolution MRI and stereological measurement to evaluate hippocampal volume in older women with recurrent major depression. Subjects were selected to exclude medical disorders other than depression. The study found that hippocampal volume loss related to depression was age- and duration-dependent. Cortisol levels were measured, and MRI scans were performed to assess brain structure. The results indicated that hippocampal atrophy is associated with recurrent major depression, and that this atrophy may be due to chronic glucocorticoid exposure or stress. The study also found that hippocampal low signal foci were present in the hippocampus, and their number correlated with the total number of days depressed. The study supports the hypothesis that depression is associated with hippocampal atrophy, possibly due to neurotoxic damage from glucocorticoids. The study also found that hippocampal atrophy was not due to overall brain atrophy, as total cerebral volumes did not differ between the groups. The study's findings suggest that depression is associated with structural changes in the hippocampus, possibly reflecting neuronal loss. These changes may contribute to the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis abnormalities seen in depression. The study also found that hippocampal atrophy was not due to acute effects of corticosteroids, but rather a cumulative effect of depression history. The study's results suggest that recurrent depression may lead to hippocampal neuronal loss, possibly through the mechanism of glucocorticoid-induced neurotoxicity. The study also found that the number of large hippocampal low signal foci correlated with the total number of days depressed. The study's findings support the hypothesis that depression is associated with hippocampal atrophy, and that this atrophy may be due to neurotoxic damage from glucocorticoids. The study also found that hippocampal atrophy was not due to overall brain atrophy, as total cerebral volumes did not differ between the groups. The study's results suggest that depression is associated with structural changes in the hippocampus, possibly reflecting neuronal loss. These changes may contribute to the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis abnormalities seen in depression. The study also found that hippocampal atrophy was not due to acute effects of corticosteroids, but rather a cumulative effect