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In vivo mapping of brainstem nuclei functional connectivity disruption in Alzheimer's disease
journal contribution
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 BozzaliWe 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.
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Publication status
- Published
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- Published version
Journal
Neurobiology of agingISSN
1558-1497Publisher
ElsevierVolume
72Page range
72-82Department affiliated with
- BSMS Neuroscience Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2018-10-31First Open Access (FOA) Date
2018-10-31First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2018-10-31Usage metrics
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