Abstract
Alzheimers disease (AD) is the most common cause of cognitive impairment in older patients, and its prevalence is expected to soar in coming decades. Neuropathologically, AD is characterized by beta-amyloid – containing plaques, tau-containing neurofibrillary tangles, and cholinergic neuronal loss. In addition to the hallmark of memory loss, the disease is associated with other neuropsychiatric and behavioral abnormalities, including psychosis, aggression, and depression. Although cholinergic cell loss is clearly an important attribute of the pathological process, another welldescribed yet underappreciated early feature of AD pathogenesis is degeneration of the locus coeruleus (LC), which serves as the main source of norepinephrine (NE) supplying various cortical and subcortical areas that are affected in AD. The purpose of this review is to explore the extent to which LC loss contributes to AD neuropathology and cognitive deficits.
Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, locus coeruleus, norepinephrine, β-amyloid
Current Alzheimer Research
Title: Functional Consequences of Locus Coeruleus Degeneration in Alzheimers Disease
Volume: 5 Issue: 3
Author(s): David Weinshenker
Affiliation:
Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, locus coeruleus, norepinephrine, β-amyloid
Abstract: Alzheimers disease (AD) is the most common cause of cognitive impairment in older patients, and its prevalence is expected to soar in coming decades. Neuropathologically, AD is characterized by beta-amyloid – containing plaques, tau-containing neurofibrillary tangles, and cholinergic neuronal loss. In addition to the hallmark of memory loss, the disease is associated with other neuropsychiatric and behavioral abnormalities, including psychosis, aggression, and depression. Although cholinergic cell loss is clearly an important attribute of the pathological process, another welldescribed yet underappreciated early feature of AD pathogenesis is degeneration of the locus coeruleus (LC), which serves as the main source of norepinephrine (NE) supplying various cortical and subcortical areas that are affected in AD. The purpose of this review is to explore the extent to which LC loss contributes to AD neuropathology and cognitive deficits.
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Cite this article as:
Weinshenker David, Functional Consequences of Locus Coeruleus Degeneration in Alzheimers Disease, Current Alzheimer Research 2008; 5 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156720508784533286
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156720508784533286 |
Print ISSN 1567-2050 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5828 |
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