Locus Coeruleus Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Neurological Diseases

• Published in: Current neurology and neuroscience reports Vol. 21; no. 1; p. 2
• Main Authors: Galgani, Alessandro, Lombardo, Francesco, Della Latta, Daniele, Martini, Nicola, Bonuccelli, Ubaldo, Fornai, Francesco, Giorgi, Filippo Sean
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.01.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aging; Brain; Cognitive ability; Humans; Locus coeruleus; Locus Coeruleus - diagnostic imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neurodegeneration; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neuroimaging; Neuroimaging (N. Pavese; Neuroimaging (N. Pavese, Section Editor); Neurological diseases; Neurology; Neurosciences; Norepinephrine; Parkinson's disease; Pathogenesis; Section Editor; Topical Collection on Neuroimaging; Magnetic resonance imaging; Alzheimer’s disease; Neuromelanin; Noradrenaline; Locus coeruleus; Parkinson’s disease
• ISSN: 1528-4042; 1534-6293
• DOI: 10.1007/s11910-020-01087-7

Purpose of Review Locus coeruleus (LC) is the main noradrenergic nucleus of the brain, and its degeneration is considered to be key in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. In the last 15 years,MRI has been used to assess LC in vivo, both in healthy subjects and in patients suffering from neurological disorders. In this review, we summarize the main findings of LC-MRI studies, interpreting them in light of preclinical and histopathological data, and discussing its potential role as diagnostic and experimental tool. Recent findings LC-MRI findings were largely in agreement with neuropathological evidences; LC signal showed to be not significantly affected during normal aging and to correlate with cognitive performances. On the contrary, a marked reduction of LC signal was observed in patients suffering from neurodegenerative disorders, with specific features. Summary LC-MRI is a promising tool, which may be used in the future to explore LC pathophysiology as well as an early biomarker for degenerative diseases.