Structural Brain Changes in Post-Stroke Depression: Emphasis on Putamen Atrophy via Voxel-Based Morphometry

Abstract

Post-stroke depression (PSD) and cognitive impairment significantly impact recovery and quality of life in ischemic stroke survivors. Using voxel-based morphometry (VBM), we examined brain MRI scans from 24 subacute ischemic stroke patients to identify structural correlates of depressive symptoms (CES-D) and cognitive function (MoCA). Analysis identified a significant negative relationship between depression severity and right putamen volume, with more severe depression linked to greater putaminal atrophy. Cognitive measures revealed no significant regional volume correlations at corrected thresholds, aligning with prior findings associating cognitive impairment with global rather than regional atrophy. Our findings emphasize the critical role of the putamen and basal ganglia integrity in PSD, highlighting disruptions in limbic–cortico–striatal networks post-stroke.