Scientists may have uncovered the area of the brain in which Alzheimer’s begins. The locus coeruleus is responsible for releasing norephinephrine, a chemical that helps regulate heart rate, cognition, attention, and memory. New research indicates that this area is subject to damage- including the plaques and tangles associated with Alzheimer’s- decades before people begin to show symptoms of the disease.
Information from Trends in Cognitive Sciences- Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s Quarterly Publication