German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research (IKND), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research (IKND), Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2023 Sep;152:105311. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105311. Epub 2023 Jul 11.
The locus coeruleus (LC) is a small brainstem structure located in the lower pons and is the main source of noradrenaline (NA) in the brain. Via its phasic and tonic firing, it modulates cognition and autonomic functions and is involved in the brain's immune response. The extent of degeneration to the LC in healthy ageing remains unclear, however, noradrenergic dysfunction may contribute to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Despite their differences in progression at later disease stages, the early involvement of the LC may lead to comparable behavioural symptoms such as preclinical sleep problems and neuropsychiatric symptoms as a result of AD and PD pathology. In this review, we draw attention to the mechanisms that underlie LC degeneration in ageing, AD and PD. We aim to motivate future research to investigate how early degeneration of the noradrenergic system may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of AD and PD which may also be relevant to other neurodegenerative diseases.
蓝斑（LC）是位于脑桥下部的一个小脑干结构，是大脑中去甲肾上腺素（NA）的主要来源。通过其相位和紧张性放电，它调节认知和自主功能，并参与大脑的免疫反应。然而，在健康衰老过程中 LC 的退化程度尚不清楚，但是去甲肾上腺素能功能障碍可能导致阿尔茨海默病（AD）和帕金森病（PD）的发病机制。尽管它们在疾病后期的进展有所不同，但 LC 的早期参与可能导致类似的行为症状，如 AD 和 PD 病理导致的临床前睡眠问题和神经精神症状。在这篇综述中，我们提请注意衰老、AD 和 PD 中 LC 退化的机制。我们的目的是激励未来的研究，以调查去甲肾上腺素能系统的早期退化如何在 AD 和 PD 的发病机制中发挥关键作用，这也可能与其他神经退行性疾病有关。
