Abstract
There is growing evidence that neuronal integrity of the noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) is important for later-life cognition. Less understood is how LC integrity relates to brain correlates of cognition, such as brain structure. Here, we examined the relationship between cortical thickness and a measure reflecting LC integrity in older (n = 229) and younger adults (n = 67). Using a magnetic resonance imaging sequence which yields high signal intensity in the LC, we assessed the contrast between signal intensity of the LC and that of neighboring pontine reference tissue. The Freesurfer software suite was used to quantify cortical thickness. LC contrast was positively related to cortical thickness in older adults, and this association was prominent in parietal, frontal, and occipital regions. Brain regions where LC contrast was related to cortical thickness include portions of the frontoparietal network which have been implicated in noradrenergically modulated cognitive functions. These findings provide novel evidence for a link between LC structure and cortical brain structure in later adulthood.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.
Footnotes
Added regional analyses of the interaction of LC contrast and age group on cortical thickness; Examined associations with thickness for left and right LC contrast separately (Supplementary Results Section 2.3); Removed mention of neuromelanin in Introduction; Added Figure S1 showing turbo spin echo scans; Updated reference list; Updated Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
- BASE-II
- Berlin Aging Study-II
- LC
- locus coeruleus
- DPT
- dorsal pontine tegmentum
- FPN
- frontoparietal network
- MMSE
- Mini Mental State Examination
- MRI
- magnetic resonance imaging
- NE
- norepinephrine