Unraveling the complexity of neurodegeneration: heterogeneous damage patterns of locus coeruleus and substantia nigra in Alzheimer's disease.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves complex neurodegeneration in the locus coeruleus (LC) and substantia nigra (SN), critical brain regions affecting cognitive and emotional processes.

Methods

Using the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center dataset of 11,583 participants, we conducted a multimodal analysis involving descriptive statistics, multifactorial regression, mediation analysis, and receiver operating characteristic curve assessment.

Results

LC degenerative changes (18.57%) significantly exceeded SN changes (4.69%). The LC demonstrated stronger correlations with psychiatric symptoms and cognitive impairment. High LC/low SN damage patterns showed the strongest associations with mild cognitive impairment (OR = 2.38) and AD (OR = 3.56).

Discussion

SUBMITTER: Tang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12402704 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature