Locus Coeruleus magnetic resonance imaging: a comparison between native-space and template-space approach

Journal of Neural Transmission, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 129(4), С. 387 - 394

Опубликована: Март 20, 2022

Abstract Locus Coeruleus (LC) is the main noradrenergic nucleus of brain, which involved in many physiological functions including cognition; its impairment may be crucial neurobiology a variety brain diseases. Coeruleus-Magnetic Resonance Imaging (LC-MRI) allows to identify vivo LC humans. Thus, research teams have been using LC-MRI estimate integrity normal aging and patients affected by neurodegenerative disorders, where my work as biomarker. A number variations between studies exist, concerning post-acquisition analysis whether this had performed within MRI native space or ad hoc -built template space. Moreover, reproducibility reliability tool still explored. Therefore, present study, we analyzed group neurologically healthy, cognitively intact elderly subjects, both space- space-based analysis. We found good inter-method agreement, particularly considering Contrast Ratio. The approach provided higher spatial resolution, lower operator-dependency, allowed topography. Our -developed showed morphological data that were line with templates published very recently. Remarkably, significantly overlapped recently “metaMask”, obtained averaging results previous studies. such pave way standardized used future clinic–anatomical correlations.

Язык: Английский

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Structural and functional characterization of the locus coeruleus in young and late middle-aged individuals

Frontiers in Neuroimaging, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 2

Опубликована: Июнь 21, 2023

The brainstem locus coeruleus (LC) influences a broad range of brain processes, including cognition. so-called LC contrast is an accepted marker the integrity that consists local hyperintensity on specific Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) structural images. small size has, however, rendered its functional characterization difficult in humans, aging. A full and characteristics healthy young late middle-aged individuals needed to determine potential roles different medical conditions. Here, we wanted whether activation mismatch negativity task changes aging response was associated contrast.We used Ultra-High Field (UHF) 7-Tesla MRI (fMRI) record during auditory oddball 53 volunteers, 34 younger (age: 22.15y ± 3.27; 29 women) 19 61.05y 5.3; 14 individuals.Whole-brain analyses confirmed responses typical cortical subcortical regions previously with negativity. When focusing brainstem, found significant rostral part probability mask generated based individual Although bilateral, more extensive left LC. Individual activity not significantly between individuals. Importantly, while higher older individuals, contrast.These findings may suggest age-related alterations be related response. results further remain stable aged 20 70.

Язык: Английский

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Automatic geometry-based estimation of the locus coeruleus region on T1-weighted magnetic resonance images

Frontiers in Neuroscience, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 18

Опубликована: Май 7, 2024

The locus coeruleus (LC) is a key brain structure implicated in cognitive function and neurodegenerative disease. Automatic segmentation of the LC crucial step quantitative non-invasive analysis large MRI cohorts. Most publicly available imaging databases for training automatic models take advantage specialized contrast-enhancing (e.g., neuromelanin-sensitive) MRI. Segmentation developed with such image contrasts, however, are not readily applicable to existing datasets conventional sequences. In this work, we evaluate feasibility using non-contrast neuroanatomical information geometrically approximate region from standard 3-Tesla T 1 -weighted images 20 subjects Human Connectome Project (HCP). We employ dataset train internally/externally two localization methods, Expected Label Value U-Net. For out-of-sample segmentation, compare results atlas-based as well test hypothesis that phase input can improve robustness. then apply our trained larger subset HCP, while exploratorily correlating variables structural connectivity demographic clinical data. This report provides an evaluation computational methods estimating neural structure.

Язык: Английский

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Fully automated segmentation of the locus coeruleus: application to assess the effects of age, sex and education

medRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Янв. 9, 2025

Abstract Background Locus coeruleus (LC) imaging using neuromelanin-sensitive (NM) MRI sequences is a promising biomarker for detecting early Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Parkinson’s (PD). Although semi or fully automatic approaches have been developed to estimate LC integrity by measuring its intensity, these techniques most often rely on single template built in standardized space and/or depend number of voxels be accounted that defined priori. Thus, algorithms make it impossible perform direct volumetric analyses do not properly account inter-individual anatomical variability. To fill this gap, our aim was develop new multi-atlas automated segmentation method the Automatic Segmentation Hippocampal Subfields (ASHS) software. A second investigate effects age, sex education intensity volume. Method We used cross-sectional data from 101 cognitively unimpaired older adults (mean age: 73.8±6.6 years; mean education: 13.2±3.0 58 women, 43 men) Age-Well randomized controlled trial whom high-resolution NM-MRI (T1-w with magnetization transfer; 0.3×0.3×0.75mm 3 ) standard T1-w (1×1x1mm were available. The manually segmented 30 randomly selected participants NM-MRI, MRI, bilateral segmentations fed into ASHS training pipeline generate atlas (ASHS-LC). ASHS-LC applied 71 remaining subjects segment we assessed both i) (normalized pons) ii) volume total intracranial volume). Result Five-fold cross-validation experiments revealed high accuracy relative manual (Dice coefficient 0,83±0,04). ICCs demonstrated excellent reliability (ICC = 0.99), whereas lower 0.43). significantly higher women than men (Cohen’s d 0.94, p < 0.001) while no associations age (β -0.0002, 0.98) 0.11, 0.37) found. In contrast, different between 0.10, p= 0.55) but negatively associated -0.25, 0.04) -0.27, 0.04). Lastly, statistically correlated, neither (atlas set: β 0.05, 0.78) nor 0.57; analysis -0.07, 0.55). Conclusion Overall, allows automatically accurately offers opportunity measure terms This importance since two metrics may offer complementary insights integrity, as evidenced differing influences demographic factors

Язык: Английский

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Fading Blue: Exploring the Causes of Locus Coeruleus Damage Across the Lifespan

Antioxidants, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 14(3), С. 255 - 255

Опубликована: Фев. 22, 2025

Locus Coeruleus (LC) is a brain nucleus that involved in variety of key functions (ranging from attention modulation to sleep-wake cycle regulation, memory encoding); its proper function necessary both during development and for integrity maintenance, at the microscale macroscale level. Due their specific intrinsic extrinsic features, LC cells are considered particularly susceptible damage concerning insults. This explains involvement degenerative diseases not only adults (in context neurodegenerative disease, mainly), but also children relation early hypoxic Down's Syndrome, among others). In this narrative review, we dissect potential mechanisms through which affected different diseases, with special emphasis on high rate activity it subjected oxidative stress associated it. Further research aimed deepening our understanding these needed enable strategies future could slow down degeneration subjects predisposed disorders.

Язык: Английский

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Fully automated MRI‐based analysis of the locus coeruleus in aging and Alzheimer's disease dementia using ELSI‐Net

Alzheimer s & Dementia Diagnosis Assessment & Disease Monitoring, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 17(2)

Опубликована: Апрель 1, 2025

Язык: Английский

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The connections of Locus Coeruleus with hypothalamus: potential involvement in Alzheimer’s disease

Journal of Neural Transmission, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 128(5), С. 589 - 613

Опубликована: Май 1, 2021

Abstract The hypothalamus and Locus Coeruleus (LC) share a variety of functions, as both them take part in the regulation sleep/wake cycle modulation autonomic homeostatic activities. Such functional interplay takes place due to dense complex anatomical connections linking two brain structures. In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), occurrence endocrine, sleep disturbances have been associated with disruption hypothalamic network; at same time, this disease, LC degeneration is receiving growing attention for potential roles it may from pathophysiological pathogenetic point view. review, we summarize current knowledge on between hypothalamus, better understand whether impairment former be responsible pathological involvement latter, their concur pathophysiology AD. Although only few papers specifically explored topic, intriguingly, some pre-clinical post-mortem human studies showed that aberrant protein spreading neuroinflammation cause these features linked impairment. Moreover, experimental rodents plays relevant role modulating or neuroendocrine systemic hormones; line this, itself partly explain hypothalamic-related symptoms

Язык: Английский

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The Central Noradrenergic System in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Merging Experimental and Clinical Evidence

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 24(6), С. 5805 - 5805

Опубликована: Март 18, 2023

The aim of this article is to highlight the potential role locus-coeruleus–noradrenergic (LC-NA) system in neurodevelopmental disorders (NdDs). LC main brain noradrenergic nucleus, key regulation arousal, attention, and stress response, its early maturation sensitivity perinatal damage make it an interesting target for translational research. Clinical data shows involvement LC-NA several NdDs, suggesting a pathogenetic development such disorders. In context, new neuroimaging tool, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), has been developed visualize vivo assess integrity, which could be valuable tool exploring morphological alterations NdD humans. New animal models may used test contribution pathogenic pathways evaluate efficacy NA-targeting drugs. narrative review, we provide overview how represent common pathophysiological mechanism reliable symptomatic disease-modifying Further research needed fully understand interplay between NdD.

Язык: Английский

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New frontiers in Alzheimer's disease diagnostic: Monoamines and their derivatives in biological fluids

Experimental Gerontology, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 152, С. 111452 - 111452

Опубликована: Июнь 26, 2021

Current diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) relies on a combination neuropsychological evaluations, biomarker measurements and brain imaging. Nevertheless, these approaches are either expensive, invasive or lack sensitivity to early AD stages. The main challenge ongoing research is therefore identify non-invasive biomarkers diagnose at preclinical stage. Accumulating evidence support the hypothesis that initial degeneration profound monoaminergic nuclei may trigger transneuronal spread pathology towards hippocampus cortex. These studies aroused great interest monoamines, i.e. noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (D) ad serotonin (5-HT), as hallmarks pathology. present work reviews current literature potential role monoamines related metabolites AD. First, morphological changes in systems during briefly described. Second, we focus concentration molecules their derivatives biological fluids, including cerebrospinal fluid, obtained by lumbar puncture, blood urine, sampled via less procedures. Starting from observations, then discuss recent insights metabolomics-based analysis, highlighting promising clinical utility for identification molecular signature, aimed improving discrimination other dementia.

Язык: Английский

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Locus Coeruleus and Noradrenergic Pharmacology in Neurodegenerative Disease

Handbook of experimental pharmacology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2023

Язык: Английский

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