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Rostral locus coeruleus integrity is associated with better memory performance in older adults

Author

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  • Martin J. Dahl

    (Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development)

  • Mara Mather

    (University of Southern California)

  • Sandra Düzel

    (Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development)

  • Nils C. Bodammer

    (Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development)

  • Ulman Lindenberger

    (Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development
    Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research
    Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research)

  • Simone Kühn

    (University Clinic Hamburg-Eppendorf
    Max Planck Institute for Human Development)

  • Markus Werkle-Bergner

    (Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development)

Abstract

For decades, research into memory decline in human cognitive ageing has focused on neocortical regions, the hippocampus and dopaminergic neuromodulation. Recent findings indicate that the locus coeruleus (LC) and noradrenergic neuromodulation may also play an important role in shaping memory development in later life. However, technical challenges in quantification of LC integrity have hindered the study of LC–cognition associations in humans. Using high-resolution, neuromelanin-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging, we found that individual differences in learning and memory were positively associated with LC integrity across a variety of memory tasks in both younger (n = 66) and older adults (n = 228). Moreover, we observed functionally relevant age differences confined to rostral LC. Older adults with a more ‘youth-like’ rostral LC also showed higher memory performance. These findings link non-invasive, in vivo indices of LC integrity to memory in ageing and highlight the role of the LC norepinephrine system in the decline of cognition.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin J. Dahl & Mara Mather & Sandra Düzel & Nils C. Bodammer & Ulman Lindenberger & Simone Kühn & Markus Werkle-Bergner, 2019. "Rostral locus coeruleus integrity is associated with better memory performance in older adults," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 3(11), pages 1203-1214, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:3:y:2019:i:11:d:10.1038_s41562-019-0715-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-019-0715-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Øystein Sørensen & Anders M. Fjell & Kristine B. Walhovd, 2023. "Longitudinal Modeling of Age-Dependent Latent Traits with Generalized Additive Latent and Mixed Models," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 88(2), pages 456-486, June.
    2. Prokopis C. Prokopiou & Nina Engels-Domínguez & Kathryn V. Papp & Matthew R. Scott & Aaron P. Schultz & Christoph Schneider & Michelle E. Farrell & Rachel F. Buckley & Yakeel T. Quiroz & Georges El Fa, 2022. "Lower novelty-related locus coeruleus function is associated with Aβ-related cognitive decline in clinically healthy individuals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.

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