Locus coeruleus MRI contrast is associated with cortical thickness in older adults.

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 229 older and 67 younger adults. 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

SUBMITTER: Bachman SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7920995 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature