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Alzheimer's Research & Therapy
Published in: Alzheimer's Research & Therapy 1/2024

Open Access 01-12-2024 | Frontotemporal Dementia | Research

Combined in vivo MRI assessment of locus coeruleus and nucleus basalis of Meynert integrity in amnestic Alzheimer’s disease, suspected-LATE and frontotemporal dementia

Authors: Julien Lagarde, Pauline Olivieri, Matteo Tonietto, Camille Noiray, Stéphane Lehericy, Romain Valabrègue, Fabien Caillé, Philippe Gervais, Martin Moussion, Michel Bottlaender, Marie Sarazin

Published in: Alzheimer's Research & Therapy | Issue 1/2024

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Abstract

Background

The locus coeruleus (LC) and the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) are altered in early stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Little is known about LC and NBM alteration in limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The aim of the present study is to investigate in vivo LC and NBM integrity in patients with suspected-LATE, early-amnestic AD and FTD in comparison with controls.

Methods

Seventy-two participants (23 early amnestic-AD patients, 17 suspected-LATE, 17 FTD patients, defined by a clinical-biological diagnosis reinforced by amyloid and tau PET imaging, and 15 controls) underwent neuropsychological assessment and 3T brain MRI. We analyzed the locus coeruleus signal intensity (LC-I) and the NBM volume as well as their relation with cognition and with medial temporal/cortical atrophy.

Results

We found significantly lower LC-I and NBM volume in amnestic-AD and suspected-LATE in comparison with controls. In FTD, we also observed lower NBM volume but a slightly less marked alteration of the LC-I, independently of the temporal or frontal phenotype. NBM volume was correlated with the global cognitive efficiency in AD patients. Strong correlations were found between NBM volume and that of medial temporal structures, particularly the amygdala in both AD and FTD patients.

Conclusions

The alteration of LC and NBM in amnestic-AD, presumed-LATE and FTD suggests a common vulnerability of these structures to different proteinopathies. Targeting the noradrenergic and cholinergic systems could be effective therapeutic strategies in LATE and FTD.
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Metadata
Title
Combined in vivo MRI assessment of locus coeruleus and nucleus basalis of Meynert integrity in amnestic Alzheimer’s disease, suspected-LATE and frontotemporal dementia
Authors
Julien Lagarde
Pauline Olivieri
Matteo Tonietto
Camille Noiray
Stéphane Lehericy
Romain Valabrègue
Fabien Caillé
Philippe Gervais
Martin Moussion
Michel Bottlaender
Marie Sarazin
Publication date
01-12-2024
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Alzheimer's Research & Therapy / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1758-9193
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-024-01466-z

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