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Prokopiou PC, Engels-Domínguez N, Schultz AP, Sepulcre J, Koops EA, Papp KV, Marshall GA, Normandin MD, El Fakhri G, Rentz D, Sperling RA, Johnson KA, Jacobs HIL. Association of Novelty-Related Locus Coeruleus Function With Entorhinal Tau Deposition and Memory Decline in Preclinical Alzheimer Disease. Neurology 2023; 101:e1206-e1217. [PMID: 37491329 PMCID: PMC10516269 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000207646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The predictable Braak staging scheme suggests that cortical tau progression may be related to synaptically connected neurons. Animal and human neuroimaging studies demonstrated that changes in neuronal activity contribute to tau spreading. Whether similar mechanisms explain tau progression from the locus coeruleus (LC), a tiny noradrenergic brainstem nucleus involved in novelty, learning, and memory and among the earliest regions to accumulate tau, has not yet been established. We aimed to investigate whether novelty-related LC activity was associated with the accumulation of cortical tau and its implications for cognitive decline. METHODS We combined functional MRI data of a novel vs repeated face-name learning paradigm, [18F]-FTP-PET, [11C]-PiB-PET, and longitudinal cognitive data from 92 well-characterized older individuals in the Harvard Aging Brain Study. We related novelty vs repetition LC activity to cortical tau deposition and to longitudinal decline in memory, executive function, and the Preclinical Alzheimer Disease Cognitive Composite (version 5; PACC5). Structural equation modeling was used to examine whether entorhinal cortical (EC) tau mediated the relationship between LC activity and cognitive decline and whether this depended on beta-amyloid deposition. RESULTS The participants' average age at baseline was 69.67 ± 10.14 years. Fifty-one participants were female. Ninety-one participants were cognitively normal (CDR global = 0), and one participant had mild cognitive impairment (CDR global = 0.5) at baseline. Lower novelty-related LC activity was specifically related to greater tau deposition in the medial-lateral temporal cortex and steeper memory decline. LC activity during novelty vs repetition was not related to executive dysfunction or decline on the PACC5. The relationship between LC activity and memory decline was partially mediated by EC tau, particularly in individuals with elevated beta-amyloid deposition. DISCUSSION Our results suggested that lower novelty-related LC activity is associated with the emergence of EC tau and that the downstream effects of this LC-EC pathway on memory decline also require the presence of elevated beta-amyloid. Longitudinal studies are required to investigate whether optimal LC activity has the potential to delay tau spread and memory decline, which may have implications for designing targeted interventions promoting resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prokopis C Prokopiou
- From the Gordon Center for Medical Imaging (P.C.P., N.E.-D., J.S., E.A.K., M.D.N., G.E.F., K.A.J., H.I.L.J.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston; Faculty of Health (N.E.-D., H.I.L.J.), Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, Maastricht University, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology (A.P.S., K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; The Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging (A.P.S.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; and Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment (K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Nina Engels-Domínguez
- From the Gordon Center for Medical Imaging (P.C.P., N.E.-D., J.S., E.A.K., M.D.N., G.E.F., K.A.J., H.I.L.J.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston; Faculty of Health (N.E.-D., H.I.L.J.), Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, Maastricht University, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology (A.P.S., K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; The Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging (A.P.S.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; and Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment (K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Aaron P Schultz
- From the Gordon Center for Medical Imaging (P.C.P., N.E.-D., J.S., E.A.K., M.D.N., G.E.F., K.A.J., H.I.L.J.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston; Faculty of Health (N.E.-D., H.I.L.J.), Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, Maastricht University, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology (A.P.S., K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; The Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging (A.P.S.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; and Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment (K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Jorge Sepulcre
- From the Gordon Center for Medical Imaging (P.C.P., N.E.-D., J.S., E.A.K., M.D.N., G.E.F., K.A.J., H.I.L.J.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston; Faculty of Health (N.E.-D., H.I.L.J.), Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, Maastricht University, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology (A.P.S., K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; The Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging (A.P.S.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; and Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment (K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Elouise A Koops
- From the Gordon Center for Medical Imaging (P.C.P., N.E.-D., J.S., E.A.K., M.D.N., G.E.F., K.A.J., H.I.L.J.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston; Faculty of Health (N.E.-D., H.I.L.J.), Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, Maastricht University, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology (A.P.S., K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; The Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging (A.P.S.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; and Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment (K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Kathryn V Papp
- From the Gordon Center for Medical Imaging (P.C.P., N.E.-D., J.S., E.A.K., M.D.N., G.E.F., K.A.J., H.I.L.J.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston; Faculty of Health (N.E.-D., H.I.L.J.), Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, Maastricht University, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology (A.P.S., K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; The Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging (A.P.S.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; and Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment (K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Gad A Marshall
- From the Gordon Center for Medical Imaging (P.C.P., N.E.-D., J.S., E.A.K., M.D.N., G.E.F., K.A.J., H.I.L.J.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston; Faculty of Health (N.E.-D., H.I.L.J.), Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, Maastricht University, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology (A.P.S., K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; The Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging (A.P.S.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; and Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment (K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Marc D Normandin
- From the Gordon Center for Medical Imaging (P.C.P., N.E.-D., J.S., E.A.K., M.D.N., G.E.F., K.A.J., H.I.L.J.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston; Faculty of Health (N.E.-D., H.I.L.J.), Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, Maastricht University, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology (A.P.S., K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; The Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging (A.P.S.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; and Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment (K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Georges El Fakhri
- From the Gordon Center for Medical Imaging (P.C.P., N.E.-D., J.S., E.A.K., M.D.N., G.E.F., K.A.J., H.I.L.J.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston; Faculty of Health (N.E.-D., H.I.L.J.), Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, Maastricht University, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology (A.P.S., K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; The Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging (A.P.S.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; and Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment (K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Dorene Rentz
- From the Gordon Center for Medical Imaging (P.C.P., N.E.-D., J.S., E.A.K., M.D.N., G.E.F., K.A.J., H.I.L.J.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston; Faculty of Health (N.E.-D., H.I.L.J.), Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, Maastricht University, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology (A.P.S., K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; The Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging (A.P.S.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; and Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment (K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Reisa A Sperling
- From the Gordon Center for Medical Imaging (P.C.P., N.E.-D., J.S., E.A.K., M.D.N., G.E.F., K.A.J., H.I.L.J.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston; Faculty of Health (N.E.-D., H.I.L.J.), Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, Maastricht University, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology (A.P.S., K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; The Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging (A.P.S.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; and Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment (K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Keith A Johnson
- From the Gordon Center for Medical Imaging (P.C.P., N.E.-D., J.S., E.A.K., M.D.N., G.E.F., K.A.J., H.I.L.J.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston; Faculty of Health (N.E.-D., H.I.L.J.), Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, Maastricht University, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology (A.P.S., K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; The Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging (A.P.S.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; and Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment (K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Heidi I L Jacobs
- From the Gordon Center for Medical Imaging (P.C.P., N.E.-D., J.S., E.A.K., M.D.N., G.E.F., K.A.J., H.I.L.J.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston; Faculty of Health (N.E.-D., H.I.L.J.), Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, Maastricht University, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology (A.P.S., K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; The Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging (A.P.S.), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; and Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment (K.V.P., G.A.M., D.R., R.A.S., K.A.J.), Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
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Plini ERG, Melnychuk MC, Andrews R, Boyle R, Whelan R, Spence JS, Chapman SB, Robertson IH, Dockree PM. Greater physical fitness (Vo2Max) in healthy older adults associated with increased integrity of the Locus Coeruleus-Noradrenergic system. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2556690. [PMID: 36798156 PMCID: PMC9934752 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2556690/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Physical activity (PA) is a key component for brain health and Reserve, and it is among the main dementia protective factors. However, the neurobiological mechanisms underpinning Reserve are not fully understood. In this regard, a noradrenergic (NA) theory of cognitive reserve (Robertson, 2013) has proposed that the upregulation of NA system might be a key factor for building reserve and resilience to neurodegeneration because of the neuroprotective role of NA across the brain. PA elicits an enhanced catecholamine response, in particular for NA. By increasing physical commitment, a greater amount of NA is synthetised in response to higher oxygen demand. More physically trained individuals show greater capabilities to carry oxygen resulting in greater Vo2max - a measure of oxygen uptake and physical fitness (PF). In the current study, we hypothesised that greater Vo2 max would be related to greater Locus Coeruleus (LC) MRI signal intensity. As hypothesised, greater Vo2max related to greater LC signal intensity across 41 healthy adults (age range 60-72). As a control procedure, in which these analyses were repeated for the other neuromodulators' seeds (for Serotonin, Dopamine and Acetylcholine), weaker associations emerged. This newly established link between Vo2max and LC-NA system offers further understanding of the neurobiology underpinning Reserve in relationship to PA. While this study supports Robertson's theory proposing the upregulation of the noradrenergic system as a possible key factor building Reserve, it also provide grounds for increasing LC-NA system resilience to neurodegeneration via Vo2max enhancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele RG Plini
- Department of Psychology, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Llyod Building, 42A Pearse St, 8PVX+GJ Dublin, Ireland
| | - Michael C Melnychuk
- Department of Psychology, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Llyod Building, 42A Pearse St, 8PVX+GJ Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ralph Andrews
- Department of Psychology, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Llyod Building, 42A Pearse St, 8PVX+GJ Dublin, Ireland
| | - Rory Boyle
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Building 149, Charlestown MA, USA
| | - Robert Whelan
- Department of Psychology, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Llyod Building, 42A Pearse St, 8PVX+GJ Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jeffrey S. Spence
- Center for BrainHealth, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Sandra B. Chapman
- Center for BrainHealth, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Ian H Robertson
- Department of Psychology, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Llyod Building, 42A Pearse St, 8PVX+GJ Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Building 149, Charlestown MA, USA
- Center for BrainHealth, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Psychology, Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Lloyd Building, 42A Pearse St, 8PVX+GJ Dublin, Ireland
| | - Paul M Dockree
- Department of Psychology, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Llyod Building, 42A Pearse St, 8PVX+GJ Dublin, Ireland
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