Mesial temporal tau is related to worse cognitive performance and greater neocortical tau load in amyloid-β–negative cognitively normal individuals

TY - JOUR

T1 - Mesial temporal tau is related to worse cognitive performance and greater neocortical tau load in amyloid-β–negative cognitively normal individuals

AU - Groot, Colin

AU - Doré, Vincent

AU - Robertson, Joanne

AU - Burnham, Samantha C.

AU - Savage, Greg

AU - Ossenkoppele, Rik

AU - Rowe, Christopher C.

AU - Villemagne, Victor L.

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - We examined whether mesial temporal (Me) tau relates to cognitive performance in 47 amyloid-β (Aβ)-negative, cognitively normal older adults (>60 years old). Me-tau was measured using [18F]flortaucipir–positron emission tomography standardized uptake value ratio. The effect of continuous and categorical (stratified at standardized uptake value ratio = 1.2 [21% Me-positive]) Me-tau on cognition (mini-mental state examination, pre-Alzheimer's cognitive composite, a memory composite, and a nonmemory composite score) was examined using general linear models, and associations between Me-tau and [18F]flortaucipir signal in the neocortex were assessed using voxelwise regressions (continuous) and voxelwise contrasts (categorical). In addition, we assessed the effect of age and Aβ burden on Me-tau. Both continuous and categorical Me-tau was associated with worse cognitive performance across all tests and with higher lateral temporal and parietal [18F]flortaucipir signal. Furthermore, we observed a marginal association between Me-tau and age, whereas there was no association with Aβ burden. Our findings indicate that Me-tau in Aβ-negative cognitively normal individuals, which is likely age-related (i.e., primary age-related tauopathy), might not be as benign as commonly thought.

AB - We examined whether mesial temporal (Me) tau relates to cognitive performance in 47 amyloid-β (Aβ)-negative, cognitively normal older adults (>60 years old). Me-tau was measured using [18F]flortaucipir–positron emission tomography standardized uptake value ratio. The effect of continuous and categorical (stratified at standardized uptake value ratio = 1.2 [21% Me-positive]) Me-tau on cognition (mini-mental state examination, pre-Alzheimer's cognitive composite, a memory composite, and a nonmemory composite score) was examined using general linear models, and associations between Me-tau and [18F]flortaucipir signal in the neocortex were assessed using voxelwise regressions (continuous) and voxelwise contrasts (categorical). In addition, we assessed the effect of age and Aβ burden on Me-tau. Both continuous and categorical Me-tau was associated with worse cognitive performance across all tests and with higher lateral temporal and parietal [18F]flortaucipir signal. Furthermore, we observed a marginal association between Me-tau and age, whereas there was no association with Aβ burden. Our findings indicate that Me-tau in Aβ-negative cognitively normal individuals, which is likely age-related (i.e., primary age-related tauopathy), might not be as benign as commonly thought.

KW - Mesial temporal lobe

KW - PART

KW - PET

KW - Tau

U2 - 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.09.017

DO - 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.09.017

M3 - Article

C2 - 33130455

AN - SCOPUS:85094187018

VL - 97

SP - 41

EP - 48

JO - Neurobiology of Aging

JF - Neurobiology of Aging

SN - 1558-1497

ER -