The degeneration of locus coeruleus occurring during Alzheimer's disease clinical progression: a neuroimaging follow-up investigation

In this study, we report the results of a follow-up neuroradiological assessment, in which we evaluated the LC degeneration overtime in a group of cognitively impaired patients, submitted to MRI both at baseline and at the end of a 2.5-year follow-up. We found that a progressive LC disruption can be observed also in vivo, involving the entire nucleus and associated with clinical diagnosis. Our findings parallel neuropathological ones, which showed a continuous increase of neuronal death and volumetric atrophy within the LC with the progression of Braak's stages for neurofibrillary pathology. This supports the reliability of MRI as a tool for exploring the integrity of the central noradrenergic system in neurodegenerative disorders.PMID:38625557 | DOI:10.1007/s00429-024-02797-1
Source: Brain Structure and Function - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Source Type: research