Biomarkers.

Background: Neuropathological studies indicate that locus coeruleus(LC) volume decreases in Alzheimer's disease(AD) by 8% at each stage, (from Braak 0-1), whereas in normal aging, the LC remains unchanged. These changes make LC volumetry by neuroimaging a promising way to track AD progression even before symptoms appear. However, LC's small size and location make it prone to imaging artifacts.

Public Health.

Background: Racial differences in dementia prevalence and incidence were found with higher dementia burden in African descendants. Previous neuropathological studies were conducted mostly in white participants in convenience samples. Further studies in diverse populations are important to foster the understanding of race differences in dementia pathology.

Biomarkers.

Background: Frailty, characterized by increased physical vulnerability, is associated with a higher incidence and severity of cognitive impairment and also a higher burden of neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases. This study investigates the association between frailty and neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular pathologies.

Method: Cross-sectional analysis using clinical and neuropathological data from individuals aged 60 or older, enrolled in the Biobank for Aging Studies between 2004 and 2023.

Developing Topics.

Background: The Neuromodulatory Subcortical System (NSS) consists of nuclei exhibiting early vulnerability to tauopathies, including Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Within the NSS, there is a spectrum of vulnerability that becomes apparent in the earliest stages of AD, offering a chance to probe factors underlying vulnerability to AD.

Method: In this study, we applied bulk RNA sequencing in well-characterized postmortem human tissue from n = 22 cases at early (Braak 0-III) AD-tau stages to understand why this susceptibility gradient exists by examining two nuclei with very similar neurons but differing in their vulnerability to AD the locus coeruleus (LC) and substantia nigra (SN).

Alzheimer's Imaging Consortium.

Background: Neuropathological studies indicate that locus coeruleus(LC) volume decreases in Alzheimer's disease(AD) by 8% at each stage, (from Braak 0-1), whereas in normal aging, the LC remains unchanged. These changes make LC volumetry by neuroimaging a promising way to track AD progression even before symptoms appear. However, LC's small size and location make it prone to imaging artifacts.