Investigating Myelin Abnormalities in Major Depressive Disorder: Insights from Synthetic Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Motivation: Major depressive disorder is a common mental illness with biological processes, such as myelin alterations, that are not yet fully understood. Goal(s): This study aims to explore myelin abnormalities in MDD patients utilizing Synthetic MRI (SyMRI) technique. Approach: Myelin content measured by SyMRI was compared between 32 MDD patients and 51 healthy controls, and the study further investigated the relationship between myelin alterations and the depressive symptoms. Results: Several white matter regions exhibited a significant decrease in myelin content in individuals with MDD, and a correlation was found between the depressive symptoms and these myelin deficits. Impact: The present study highlights the potential of Synthetic MRI technique as a valuable tool for measuring myelin content, which could play a crucial role in understanding the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of Major Depressive Disorder.