Neuronal Loss Is Greater in the Locus Coeruleus Than Nucleus Basalis and Substantia Nigra in Alzheimer and Parkinson Diseases

Abstract

BOTH ALZHEIMER disease (AD) and Parkinson disease (PD) are associated with neuronal degeneration in subcortical nuclei. Degeneration of the cholinergic nucleus basalis (NB) is characteristic of AD, but also occurs in PD.¹ Neuronal loss in the dopaminergic substantia nigra pars compacta (SN) is the pathologic hallmark of PD,² but occurs to a variable degree in AD.³ Depletion of neurons in the noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) is also well recognized in both disorders.^4,5