Abstract
Neuropathological studies showed early locus coeruleus (LC) neuronal loss associated with tauopathy in Alzheimer's Disease (AD). We used the LC signal intensity (LC-I) on 3T MRI to assess the LC integrity in AD (n = 37) and controls (n = 17). The LC-I was decreased in AD regardless of typical (amnesic) and atypical presentation (logopenic aphasia/visuo-spatial deficit), from the prodromal stage, and independently of the amyloid load measured by PiB-PET. The LC-I was correlated with memory performance of typical AD. This supports the pathophysiological model in which the LC plays a critical role in AD and may thus be a potential therapeutic target.