The locus coeruleus: Blueprint towards identifying preclinical Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a common form of dementia that impairs memory and thinking, usually later in life. Years before symptoms appear, harmful proteins start to build up in the brain. This early phase, called the preclinical stage, offers an opportunity to detect and address the disease before significant damage occurs. This is particularly important as effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease are still limited.
This thesis investigated the locus coeruleus, one of the first brain areas affected by a toxic protein typical of Alzheimer’s disease. The locus coeruleus plays a key role in brain health by producing norepinephrine, a chemical that supports memory and attention. The findings of this research show that early changes in this brain region are linked to early brain damage, memory loss, and mood symptoms. More importantly, this work revealed that brain scans of the locus coeruleus may help identify people at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, opening the door for earlier diagnosis and better treatments.