In vivo locus coeruleus imaging in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease: Neuroimaging / Optimal neuroimaging measures for early detection. (7th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Betts, Matthew J.; Pape, Johanna; Spottke, Annika; Teipel, Stefan J.; Kilimann, Ingo; Galazky, Imke; Jessen, Frank; Düzel, Emrah
• Is Part Of: Alzheimer's & dementia. Volume 16(2020)Supplement 5
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-12-07
• Subjects: Alzheimer's disease -- Periodicals; Alzheimer Disease -- Periodicals; Dementia -- Periodicals; Démence; Maladie d'Alzheimer; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.83
• DOI: 10.1002/alz.044587
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1552-5260

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The locus coeruleus (LC) plays an important role in numerous cognitive functions such as working memory, learning and attention. Novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques now provide an opportunity to quantify structural features of the LC in vivo which may help to understand the contribution of LC neurodegeneration to clinical and pathological manifestations in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study we aimed to use in vivo T1 ‐weighted Fast Low Angle Shot (FLASH) imaging to visualize and quantify LC MRI contrast in AD and PD and to determine the relationship between LC MRI contrast and cognition. Method: Baseline data from the DZNE Longitudinal Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (DELCODE) study comprising 48 healthy elderly adults, 27 individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), 16 individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 11 individuals with AD together with 30 patients with idiopathic PD were analysed. All subjects were scanned at 3T using a 3D T1 ‐weighted FLASH sequence (0.75mm isotropic resolution whole brain acquisition). FLASH images were sinc interpolated and upsampled to 0.375mm 3 resolution prior to manual segmentation of the LC. Median LC signal intensity was determined relative to reference regions delineated in the rostral pontomesencephalic area. Result: A significant decrease in LC MRI contrast in AD and PD was observed compared to healthy controls. However no significant decrease in LC MRI contrast was observed in SCD and MCI compared to healthy controls or between AD and PD patients. In AD, a linear regression analysis across groups (n=102), revealed a significant negative correlation between LC MRI contrast and performance in the backward digit span (DS)/total (DS) test. In PD, a significant positive correlation between LC MRI contrast and slower performance in the Trail Making Test (TMT)‐A and B, was observed. Conclusion: The results confirm that T1 ‐weighted FLASH imaging using 3 T MRI can identify substantial LC degeneration in vivo and is associated with impaired working memory and attention in AD and PD, respectively. Collectively these results indicate that in vivo LC imaging may help to track LC degeneration and understand the pathological underpinnings of cognitive dysfunction in neurodegenerative disease.