Different Patterns of Locus Coeruleus MRI Alteration in Alzheimer’s and Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Alessandro Galgani; Giovanni Palermo; Francesco Lombardo; Nicola Martini; Luca Bastiani; Andrea Vergallo; Luca Tommasini; Gabriele Bellini; Filippo Baldacci; Daniela Frosini; Gloria Tognoni; Marco Gesi; Filippo Cademartiri; Francesco Fornai; Nicola Pavese; Roberto Ceravolo; Filippo Sean Giorgi

doi:10.2174/1567205020666230721144603

Different Patterns of Locus Coeruleus MRI Alteration in Alzheimer’s and Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Alessandro Galgani, Giovanni Palermo, Francesco Lombardo, Nicola Martini, Luca Bastiani, Andrea Vergallo, Luca Tommasini, Gabriele Bellini, Filippo Baldacci, Daniela Frosini, Gloria Tognoni, Marco Gesi, Filippo Cademartiri, Francesco Fornai, Nicola Pavese, Roberto Ceravolo, Filippo Sean Giorgi

Department of Clinical Medicine - Nuclear Medicine and PET

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: The integrity of Locus Coeruleus can be evaluated in vivo using specific Magnetic Resonance Imaging sequences. While this nucleus has been shown to be degenerated both in post-mortem and in vivo studies in Alzheimer’s Disease, for other neurodegenerative dementias such as Dementia with Lewy Bodies this has only been shown ex-vivo. Objective: To evaluate the integrity of the Locus Coeruleus through Magnetic Resonance Imaging in patients suffering from Dementia with Lewy Bodies and explore the possible differences with the Locus Coeruleus alterations occurring in Alzheimer’s Dementia. Methods: Eleven patients with Dementia with Lewy Bodies and 35 with Alzheimer’s Dementia were recruited and underwent Locus Coeruleus Magnetic Resonance Imaging, along with 52 cognitively intact, age-matched controls. Images were analyzed applying an already developed template-based approach; Locus Coeruleus signal was expressed through the Locus Coeruleus Contrast Ratio parameter, and a locoregional analysis was performed. Results: Both groups of patients showed significantly lower values of Locus Coeruleus Contrast Ratio when compared to controls. A different pattern of spatial involvement was found; patients affected by Dementia with Lewy bodies showed global and bilateral involvement of the Locus Coeruleus, whereas the alterations in Alzheimer’s Dementia patients were more likely to be localized in the rostral part of the left nucleus. Conclusions: Magnetic Resonance Imaging successfully detects widespread Locus Coeruleus degeneration in patients suffering from Dementia with Lewy Bodies. Further studies, in larger cohorts and in earlier stages of the disease, are needed to better disclose the potential diagnostic and prognostic role of this neuroradiological tool.

Original language	English
Journal	Current Alzheimer research
Volume	20
Issue	4
Pages (from-to)	277-288
Number of pages	12
ISSN	1567-2050
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.2174/1567205020666230721144603
Publication status	Published - 2023

Keywords

Alzheimer’s disease
dementia
dementia with lewy bodies
Locus coeruleus
MRI
noradrenaline
synuclein

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10.2174/1567205020666230721144603

Cite this

Galgani, A., Palermo, G., Lombardo, F., Martini, N., Bastiani, L., Vergallo, A., Tommasini, L., Bellini, G., Baldacci, F., Frosini, D., Tognoni, G., Gesi, M., Cademartiri, F., Fornai, F., Pavese, N., Ceravolo, R., & Giorgi, F. S. (2023). Different Patterns of Locus Coeruleus MRI Alteration in Alzheimer’s and Dementia with Lewy Bodies. Current Alzheimer research, 20(4), 277-288. https://doi.org/10.2174/1567205020666230721144603

@article{95f25661b3664ac588d34031fdaf8162,

title = "Different Patterns of Locus Coeruleus MRI Alteration in Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s and Dementia with Lewy Bodies",

abstract = "Background: The integrity of Locus Coeruleus can be evaluated in vivo using specific Magnetic Resonance Imaging sequences. While this nucleus has been shown to be degenerated both in post-mortem and in vivo studies in Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Disease, for other neurodegenerative dementias such as Dementia with Lewy Bodies this has only been shown ex-vivo. Objective: To evaluate the integrity of the Locus Coeruleus through Magnetic Resonance Imaging in patients suffering from Dementia with Lewy Bodies and explore the possible differences with the Locus Coeruleus alterations occurring in Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Dementia. Methods: Eleven patients with Dementia with Lewy Bodies and 35 with Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Dementia were recruited and underwent Locus Coeruleus Magnetic Resonance Imaging, along with 52 cognitively intact, age-matched controls. Images were analyzed applying an already developed template-based approach; Locus Coeruleus signal was expressed through the Locus Coeruleus Contrast Ratio parameter, and a locoregional analysis was performed. Results: Both groups of patients showed significantly lower values of Locus Coeruleus Contrast Ratio when compared to controls. A different pattern of spatial involvement was found; patients affected by Dementia with Lewy bodies showed global and bilateral involvement of the Locus Coeruleus, whereas the alterations in Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Dementia patients were more likely to be localized in the rostral part of the left nucleus. Conclusions: Magnetic Resonance Imaging successfully detects widespread Locus Coeruleus degeneration in patients suffering from Dementia with Lewy Bodies. Further studies, in larger cohorts and in earlier stages of the disease, are needed to better disclose the potential diagnostic and prognostic role of this neuroradiological tool.",

keywords = "Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease, dementia, dementia with lewy bodies, Locus coeruleus, MRI, noradrenaline, synuclein",

author = "Alessandro Galgani and Giovanni Palermo and Francesco Lombardo and Nicola Martini and Luca Bastiani and Andrea Vergallo and Luca Tommasini and Gabriele Bellini and Filippo Baldacci and Daniela Frosini and Gloria Tognoni and Marco Gesi and Filippo Cademartiri and Francesco Fornai and Nicola Pavese and Roberto Ceravolo and Giorgi, {Filippo Sean}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 Bentham Science Publishers",

year = "2023",

doi = "10.2174/1567205020666230721144603",

language = "English",

volume = "20",

pages = "277--288",

journal = "Current Alzheimer research",

issn = "1567-2050",

publisher = "Bentham Science Publishers B.V.",

number = "4",

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Galgani, A, Palermo, G, Lombardo, F, Martini, N, Bastiani, L, Vergallo, A, Tommasini, L, Bellini, G, Baldacci, F, Frosini, D, Tognoni, G, Gesi, M, Cademartiri, F, Fornai, F, Pavese, N, Ceravolo, R & Giorgi, FS 2023, 'Different Patterns of Locus Coeruleus MRI Alteration in Alzheimer’s and Dementia with Lewy Bodies', Current Alzheimer research, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 277-288. https://doi.org/10.2174/1567205020666230721144603

Different Patterns of Locus Coeruleus MRI Alteration in Alzheimer’s and Dementia with Lewy Bodies. / Galgani, Alessandro; Palermo, Giovanni; Lombardo, Francesco et al.
In: Current Alzheimer research, Vol. 20, No. 4, 2023, p. 277-288.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Different Patterns of Locus Coeruleus MRI Alteration in Alzheimer’s and Dementia with Lewy Bodies

AU - Galgani, Alessandro

AU - Palermo, Giovanni

AU - Lombardo, Francesco

AU - Martini, Nicola

AU - Bastiani, Luca

AU - Vergallo, Andrea

AU - Tommasini, Luca

AU - Bellini, Gabriele

AU - Baldacci, Filippo

AU - Frosini, Daniela

AU - Tognoni, Gloria

AU - Gesi, Marco

AU - Cademartiri, Filippo

AU - Fornai, Francesco

AU - Pavese, Nicola

AU - Ceravolo, Roberto

AU - Giorgi, Filippo Sean

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Background: The integrity of Locus Coeruleus can be evaluated in vivo using specific Magnetic Resonance Imaging sequences. While this nucleus has been shown to be degenerated both in post-mortem and in vivo studies in Alzheimer’s Disease, for other neurodegenerative dementias such as Dementia with Lewy Bodies this has only been shown ex-vivo. Objective: To evaluate the integrity of the Locus Coeruleus through Magnetic Resonance Imaging in patients suffering from Dementia with Lewy Bodies and explore the possible differences with the Locus Coeruleus alterations occurring in Alzheimer’s Dementia. Methods: Eleven patients with Dementia with Lewy Bodies and 35 with Alzheimer’s Dementia were recruited and underwent Locus Coeruleus Magnetic Resonance Imaging, along with 52 cognitively intact, age-matched controls. Images were analyzed applying an already developed template-based approach; Locus Coeruleus signal was expressed through the Locus Coeruleus Contrast Ratio parameter, and a locoregional analysis was performed. Results: Both groups of patients showed significantly lower values of Locus Coeruleus Contrast Ratio when compared to controls. A different pattern of spatial involvement was found; patients affected by Dementia with Lewy bodies showed global and bilateral involvement of the Locus Coeruleus, whereas the alterations in Alzheimer’s Dementia patients were more likely to be localized in the rostral part of the left nucleus. Conclusions: Magnetic Resonance Imaging successfully detects widespread Locus Coeruleus degeneration in patients suffering from Dementia with Lewy Bodies. Further studies, in larger cohorts and in earlier stages of the disease, are needed to better disclose the potential diagnostic and prognostic role of this neuroradiological tool.

AB - Background: The integrity of Locus Coeruleus can be evaluated in vivo using specific Magnetic Resonance Imaging sequences. While this nucleus has been shown to be degenerated both in post-mortem and in vivo studies in Alzheimer’s Disease, for other neurodegenerative dementias such as Dementia with Lewy Bodies this has only been shown ex-vivo. Objective: To evaluate the integrity of the Locus Coeruleus through Magnetic Resonance Imaging in patients suffering from Dementia with Lewy Bodies and explore the possible differences with the Locus Coeruleus alterations occurring in Alzheimer’s Dementia. Methods: Eleven patients with Dementia with Lewy Bodies and 35 with Alzheimer’s Dementia were recruited and underwent Locus Coeruleus Magnetic Resonance Imaging, along with 52 cognitively intact, age-matched controls. Images were analyzed applying an already developed template-based approach; Locus Coeruleus signal was expressed through the Locus Coeruleus Contrast Ratio parameter, and a locoregional analysis was performed. Results: Both groups of patients showed significantly lower values of Locus Coeruleus Contrast Ratio when compared to controls. A different pattern of spatial involvement was found; patients affected by Dementia with Lewy bodies showed global and bilateral involvement of the Locus Coeruleus, whereas the alterations in Alzheimer’s Dementia patients were more likely to be localized in the rostral part of the left nucleus. Conclusions: Magnetic Resonance Imaging successfully detects widespread Locus Coeruleus degeneration in patients suffering from Dementia with Lewy Bodies. Further studies, in larger cohorts and in earlier stages of the disease, are needed to better disclose the potential diagnostic and prognostic role of this neuroradiological tool.

KW - Alzheimer’s disease

KW - dementia

KW - dementia with lewy bodies

KW - Locus coeruleus

KW - MRI

KW - noradrenaline

KW - synuclein

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85173622203&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.2174/1567205020666230721144603

DO - 10.2174/1567205020666230721144603

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 37488756

AN - SCOPUS:85173622203

SN - 1567-2050

VL - 20

SP - 277

EP - 288

JO - Current Alzheimer research

JF - Current Alzheimer research

IS - 4

ER -

Different Patterns of Locus Coeruleus MRI Alteration in Alzheimer’s and Dementia with Lewy Bodies

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