The integrity of dopaminergic and noradrenergic brain regions is associated with different aspects of late-life memory performance
Beteiligte Einrichtungen
Abstract
Changes in dopaminergic neuromodulation play a key role in adult memory decline. Recent research has also implicated noradrenaline in shaping late-life memory. However, it is unclear whether these two neuromodulators have distinct roles in age-related cognitive changes. Here, combining longitudinal MRI of the dopaminergic substantia nigra-ventral tegmental area (SN-VTA) and noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) in younger (n = 69) and older (n = 251) adults, we found that dopaminergic and noradrenergic integrity are differentially associated with memory performance. While LC integrity was related to better episodic memory across several tasks, SN-VTA integrity was linked to working memory. Longitudinally, we found that older age was associated with more negative change in SN-VTA and LC integrity. Notably, changes in LC integrity reliably predicted future episodic memory. These differential associations of dopaminergic and noradrenergic nuclei with late-life cognitive decline have potential clinical utility, given their degeneration in several age-associated diseases.
Bibliografische Daten
Originalsprache | Englisch |
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ISSN | 2662-8465 |
DOIs | |
Status | Veröffentlicht - 09.2023 |
Anmerkungen des Dekanats
© 2023. The Author(s).
PubMed | 37653256 |
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