Practical Geriatrics ›› 2026, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (1): 67-71.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1003-9198.2026.01.014

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Advances in functional near-infrared spectroscopy research on late-life depression

LIU Junhong, LI Xuemei   

  1. Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China
  • Received:2025-06-30 Published:2026-01-16
  • Contact: LI Xuemei, Email: 981917802@qq.com

Abstract: Late-life depression (LLD) is a common psychiatric disorder in the elderly, characterized by diagnostic challenges and frequent misdiagnosis. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a non-invasive and user-friendly neuroimaging technique, is increasingly used to study brain function in LLD. This review summarizes recent advances in fNIRS research on LLD, with a focus on resting-state and task-based studies. It highlights characteristic abnormalities such as prefrontal hypoactivation and neurovascular coupling (NVC) dysfunction, which are frequently observed in patients. Furthermore, the potential of fNIRS in aiding clinical diagnosis, identifying LLD subtypes, and predicting treatment outcomes is discussed. Finally, we propose that fNIRS is expected to address the shortcomings of traditional imaging technologies in terms of accessibitity and dynamic monitoring, providing crucial support for the identification, classification, and intervention of LLD.

Key words: late-life depression, functional near-infrared spectroscopy, cerebral hemodynamics, prefrontal function, neurovascular coupling

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