title: Noradrenergic dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: The brain noradrenergic system supplies the neurotransmitter norepinephrine throughout the brain via widespread efferent projections, and plays a pivotal role in modulating cognitive activities in the cortex. Profound noradrenergic degeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients has been observed for decades, with recent research suggesting that the locus coeruleus (where noradrenergic neurons are mainly located) is a predominant site where AD-related pathology begins. Mounting evidence indicates that the loss of noradrenergic innervation greatly exacerbates AD pathogenesis and progression, although the precise roles of noradrenergic components in AD pathogenesis remain unclear. The aim of this review is to summarize current findings on noradrenergic dysfunction in AD, as well as to point out deficiencies in our knowledge where more research is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gannon
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Pulin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Che
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Yunjia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Erik D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Roberson
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: adrenergic receptors; degeneration; dysfunction; noradrenergic system; norepinephrine