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Locus coeruleus neurofibrillary degeneration in aging, mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer's disease
Grudzien A, Shaw P, Weintraub S, Bigio E, Mash DC, Mesulam MM.. Neurobiology of aging, 2006-03-29
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Neurofibrillary degeneration in the nucleus basalis and a loss of its cortical cholinergic projections are prominent components of the neuropathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The AD brain is also associated with a degeneration of the noradrenergic projections arising from the nucleus locus coeruleus (LC), but the time course of this lesion is poorly understood. To determine whether the LC displays neurofibrillary abnormalities early in the course of events leading to AD, we examined tissue specimens from seven cognitively normal controls and five subjects at the stages of mild cognitively impairment (MCI) or early AD.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Grudzien, A., Shaw, P., Weintraub, S., Bigio, E., Mash, D. C., & Mesulam, M. M. (2007). Locus coeruleus neurofibrillary degeneration in aging, mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiology of aging. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2006.02.007
Vancouver
Grudzien A, Shaw P, Weintraub S, Bigio E, Mash DC, Mesulam MM. Locus coeruleus neurofibrillary degeneration in aging, mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiology of aging. 2007. doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2006.02.007. PMID: 16574280.
BibTeX
@article{grudzien2007-16574280,
author = {Grudzien, A. and Shaw, P. and Weintraub, S. and Bigio, E. and Mash, D. C. and Mesulam, M. M.},
title = {{Locus coeruleus neurofibrillary degeneration in aging, mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer's disease}},
journal = {Neurobiology of aging},
year = {2007},
doi = {10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2006.02.007},
pmid = {16574280},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2006.02.007}
}
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Key findings
- The AD brain is also associated with a degeneration of the noradrenergic projections arising from the nucleus locus coeruleus (LC), but the time course of this lesion is poorly understood.
- To determine whether the LC displays neurofibrillary abnormalities early in the course of events leading to AD, we examined tissue specimens from seven cognitively normal controls and five subjects at the stages of mild cognitively impairment (MCI) or early AD.
- Tyrosine hydroxylase immunochemistry was used as a marker of LC neurons while AT8 immunolabeling visualized abnormal tau associated with neurofibrillary tangles and their precursors.
- Thioflavine-S was used as a marker for fully developed tangles.
Why it matters
This study examined tissue from a small number of cognitively normal controls and subjects with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer's disease to see whether the locus coeruleus shows neurofibrillary abnormalities early. It is a small tissue study of disease processes, not a treatment, cure, or prevention study.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 47/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Neurobiology of aging) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Neurobiology of Aging: journal h-index 263 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2007 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 398 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 19.0 citations a year over 21 year(s) since 2007 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 6.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 21 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 58 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author M.‐Marsel Mesulam: h-index 36 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Northwestern University: institution h-index 1,592 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 16574280) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
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