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In vivo mapping of brainstem nuclei functional connectivity disruption in Alzheimer's disease

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posted on 2023-06-09, 15:17 authored by Laura Serra, Marcello D'Amelio, Carlotta Di Domenico, Ottavia Dipasquale, Camillo Marra, Nicola Biagio Mercuri, Carlo Caltagirone, Mara Cercignani, Marco Bozzali
We assessed here functional connectivity changes in the locus coeruleus (LC) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). We recruited 169 patients with either AD or amnestic mild cognitive impairment due to AD and 37 elderly controls who underwent cognitive and neuropsychiatric assessments and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging at 3T. Connectivity was assessed between LC and VTA and the rest of the brain. In amnestic mild cognitive impairment patients, VTA disconnection was predominant with parietal regions, while in AD patients, it involved the posterior nodes of the default-mode network. We also looked at the association between neuropsychiatric symptoms (assessed by the neuropsychiatric inventory) and VTA connectivity. Symptoms such as agitation, irritability, and disinhibition were associated with VTA connectivity with the parahippocampal gyrus and cerebellar vermis, while sleep and eating disorders were associated with VTA connectivity to the striatum and the insular cortex. This suggests a contribution of VTA degeneration to AD pathophysiology and to the occurrence of neuropsychiatric symptoms. We did not find evidence of LC disconnection, but this could be explained by the size of this nucleus, which makes it difficult to isolate. These results are consistent with animal findings and have potential implications for AD prognosis and therapies.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Neurobiology of aging

ISSN

1558-1497

Publisher

Elsevier

Volume

72

Page range

72-82

Department affiliated with

  • BSMS Neuroscience Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2018-10-31

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2018-10-31

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2018-10-31

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