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Chang HI, Huang CW, Huang SH, Hsu SW, Lin KJ, Ho TY, Wu HC, Chang CC. Distinct biological property of tau in tau-first cognitive proteinopathy: Evidence by longitudinal clinical neuroimaging profiles and compared with late-onset Alzheimer disease. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024; 78:446-455. [PMID: 38864501 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.13680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tau-first cognitive proteinopathy (TCP) denotes a clinical phenotype of Alzheimer disease (AD) showing Florzolotau(18F) positron emission tomography (PET) positivity but a negative amyloid status. AIM We explored the biological property of tau using longitudinal cognitive and neuroimaging data in TCP and compared with late-onset AD (LOAD). METHOD We enrolled 56 patients with LOAD, 34 patients with TCP, and 26 cognitive unimpaired controls. All of the participants had historical data of 2 to 4 three-dimensional T1 images and 2 to 6 annual cognitive evaluations over a follow-up period of 7 years. Tau topography was measured using Florzolotau(18F) PET. In the LOAD and TCP groups, we constructed tau or gray matter clusters covarying with the cognitive measurements. We used mediator analysis to explore the regional tau load as predictor, gray matter partitions as mediators, and significant cognitive test scores as outcomes. Longitudinal cognitive decline and cortical thickness degeneration pattern were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model. RESULTS The TCP group had longitudinal declines in nonexecutive domains. The deterministic factor predicting the short-term memory score in TCP was the hippocampal volume and not directly via the medial and lateral temporal tau load. These features formed the conceptual differences with LOAD. DISCUSSION The biological properties of tau and the longitudinal cognitive-imaging trajectory support the conceptual distinction between TCP and LOAD. TCP represents one specific entity featuring salient short-term memory impairment, declines in nonexecutive domains, a slower gray matter degenerative pattern, and a restricted impact of tau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsin-I Chang
- Department of Neurology, Cognition and Aging Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Institute for Translational Research in Biomedicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Wei Huang
- Department of Neurology, Cognition and Aging Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Institute for Translational Research in Biomedicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Hua Huang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Wei Hsu
- Department of Radiology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Kun-Ju Lin
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Lin-Kou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Ying Ho
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Lin-Kou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hsiu-Chuan Wu
- Department of Neurology, Lin-Kou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chiung-Chih Chang
- Department of Neurology, Cognition and Aging Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Institute for Translational Research in Biomedicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Vos SJB, Delvenne A, Jack CR, Thal DR, Visser PJ. The clinical importance of suspected non-Alzheimer disease pathophysiology. Nat Rev Neurol 2024; 20:337-346. [PMID: 38724589 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-024-00962-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
The development of biomarkers for Alzheimer disease (AD) has led to the origin of suspected non-AD pathophysiology (SNAP) - a heterogeneous biomarker-based concept that describes individuals with normal amyloid and abnormal tau and/or neurodegeneration biomarker status. In this Review, we describe the origins of the SNAP construct, along with its prevalence, diagnostic and prognostic implications, and underlying neuropathology. As we discuss, SNAP can be operationalized using different biomarker modalities, which could affect prevalence estimates and reported characteristics of SNAP in ways that are not yet fully understood. Moreover, the underlying aetiologies that lead to a SNAP biomarker profile, and whether SNAP is the same in people with and without cognitive impairment, remains unclear. Improved insight into the clinical characteristics and pathophysiology of SNAP is of major importance for research and clinical practice, as well as for trial design to optimize care and treatment of individuals with SNAP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie J B Vos
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Alzheimer Centrum Limburg, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.
| | - Aurore Delvenne
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Alzheimer Centrum Limburg, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Clifford R Jack
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Dietmar R Thal
- Laboratory for Neuropathology, Department of Imaging and Pathology and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pieter Jelle Visser
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Alzheimer Centrum Limburg, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Chang HI, Huang KL, Huang CG, Huang CW, Huang SH, Lin KJ, Chang CC. Clinical Significance of the Plasma Biomarker Panels in Amyloid-Negative and Tau PET-Positive Amnestic Patients: Comparisons with Alzheimer's Disease and Unimpaired Cognitive Controls. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5607. [PMID: 38891795 PMCID: PMC11171590 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether plasma biomarkers can help to diagnose, differentiate from Alzheimer disease (AD), and stage cognitive performance in patients with positron emission tomography (PET)-confirmed primary age-related tauopathy, termed tau-first cognitive proteinopathy (TCP) in this study. In this multi-center study, we enrolled 285 subjects with young-onset AD (YOAD; n = 55), late-onset AD (LOAD; n = 96), TCP (n = 44), and cognitively unimpaired controls (CTL; n = 90) and analyzed plasma Aβ42/Aβ40, pTau181, neurofilament light (NFL), and total-tau using single-molecule assays. Amyloid and tau centiloids reflected pathological burden, and hippocampal volume reflected structural integrity. Receiver operating characteristic curves and areas under the curves (AUCs) were used to determine the diagnostic accuracy of plasma biomarkers compared to hippocampal volume and amyloid and tau centiloids. The Mini-Mental State Examination score (MMSE) served as the major cognitive outcome. Logistic stepwise regression was used to assess the overall diagnostic accuracy, combining fluid and structural biomarkers and a stepwise linear regression model for the significant variables for MMSE. For TCP, tau centiloid reached the highest AUC for diagnosis (0.79), while pTau181 could differentiate TCP from YOAD (accuracy 0.775) and LOAD (accuracy 0.806). NFL reflected the clinical dementia rating in TCP, while pTau181 (rho = 0.3487, p = 0.03) and Aβ42/Aβ40 (rho = -0.36, p = 0.02) were significantly correlated with tau centiloid. Hippocampal volume (unstandardized β = 4.99, p = 0.01) outperformed all of the fluid biomarkers in predicting MMSE scores in the TCP group. Our results support the superiority of tau PET to diagnose TCP, pTau181 to differentiate TCP from YOAD or LOAD, and NFL for functional staging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsin-I Chang
- Department of Neurology, Cognition and Aging Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan; (H.-I.C.); (C.-W.H.)
- Institute for Translational Research in Biomedicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Lun Huang
- Department of Neurology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333423, Taiwan;
| | - Chung-Gue Huang
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Department of Medical Bio-Technology and Laboratory Science, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333423, Taiwan;
| | - Chi-Wei Huang
- Department of Neurology, Cognition and Aging Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan; (H.-I.C.); (C.-W.H.)
| | - Shu-Hua Huang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan;
| | - Kun-Ju Lin
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333423, Taiwan;
| | - Chiung-Chih Chang
- Department of Neurology, Cognition and Aging Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan; (H.-I.C.); (C.-W.H.)
- Institute for Translational Research in Biomedicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 80404, Taiwan
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Maldonado-Díaz C, Hiya S, Yokoda RT, Farrell K, Marx GA, Kauffman J, Daoud EV, Gonzales MM, Parker AS, Canbeldek L, Kulumani Mahadevan LS, Crary JF, White CL, Walker JM, Richardson TE. Disentangling and quantifying the relative cognitive impact of concurrent mixed neurodegenerative pathologies. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 147:58. [PMID: 38520489 PMCID: PMC10960766 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02716-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative pathologies such as Alzheimer disease neuropathologic change (ADNC), Lewy body disease (LBD), limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy neuropathologic change (LATE-NC), and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) frequently coexist, but little is known about the exact contribution of each pathology to cognitive decline and dementia in subjects with mixed pathologies. We explored the relative cognitive impact of concurrent common and rare neurodegenerative pathologies employing multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, gender, and level of education. We analyzed a cohort of 6,262 subjects from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center database, ranging from 0 to 6 comorbid neuropathologic findings per individual, where 95.7% of individuals had at least 1 neurodegenerative finding at autopsy and 75.5% had at least 2 neurodegenerative findings. We identified which neuropathologic entities correlate most frequently with one another and demonstrated that the total number of pathologies per individual was directly correlated with cognitive performance as assessed by Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR®) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). We show that ADNC, LBD, LATE-NC, CVD, hippocampal sclerosis, Pick disease, and FTLD-TDP significantly impact overall cognition as independent variables. More specifically, ADNC significantly affected all assessed cognitive domains, LBD affected attention, processing speed, and language, LATE-NC primarily affected tests related to logical memory and language, while CVD and other less common pathologies (including Pick disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and corticobasal degeneration) had more variable neurocognitive effects. Additionally, ADNC, LBD, and higher numbers of comorbid neuropathologies were associated with the presence of at least one APOE ε4 allele, and ADNC and higher numbers of neuropathologies were inversely correlated with APOE ε2 alleles. Understanding the mechanisms by which individual and concomitant neuropathologies affect cognition and the degree to which each contributes is an imperative step in the development of biomarkers and disease-modifying therapeutics, particularly as these medical interventions become more targeted and personalized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Maldonado-Díaz
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Annenberg Building, 15.238, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Satomi Hiya
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Annenberg Building, 15.238, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Raquel T Yokoda
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Annenberg Building, 15.238, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Kurt Farrell
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Annenberg Building, 15.238, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank and Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Ronal M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Gabriel A Marx
- Neuropathology Brain Bank and Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Ronal M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Justin Kauffman
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Annenberg Building, 15.238, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank and Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Ronal M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Elena V Daoud
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Mitzi M Gonzales
- Department of Neurology, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Alicia S Parker
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Leyla Canbeldek
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Annenberg Building, 15.238, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Lakshmi Shree Kulumani Mahadevan
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Annenberg Building, 15.238, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - John F Crary
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Annenberg Building, 15.238, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank and Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Ronal M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Charles L White
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Jamie M Walker
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Annenberg Building, 15.238, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank and Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Timothy E Richardson
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Annenberg Building, 15.238, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
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Morris M, Coste GI, Redding-Ochoa J, Guo H, Graves AR, Troncoso JC, Huganir RL. Hippocampal synaptic alterations associated with tau pathology in primary age-related tauopathy. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2023; 82:836-844. [PMID: 37595576 PMCID: PMC10516464 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlad064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary age-related tauopathy (PART) is characterized by aggregation of tau in the mesial temporal lobe in older individuals. High pathologic tau stage (Braak stage) or a high burden of hippocampal tau pathology has been associated with cognitive impairment in PART. However, the potential underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Cognitive impairment in many neurodegenerative diseases correlates with synaptic loss, raising the question of whether synaptic loss also occurs in PART. To address this, we investigated synaptic changes associated with tau Braak stage and high tau pathology burden in PART using synaptophysin and phospho-tau immunofluorescence. We compared 12 cases of definite PART with 6 controls and 6 Alzheimer disease cases. In this study, the hippocampal CA2 region showed loss of synaptophysin puncta and intensity in cases of PART with either a high stage (Braak IV) or a high burden of neuritic tau pathology. There was also loss of synaptophysin intensity in CA3 associated with a high stage or high burden of tau pathology. Loss of synaptophysin was present in Alzheimer disease, but the pattern appeared distinct. These novel findings suggest the presence of synaptic loss associated with either a high hippocampal tau burden or a Braak stage IV in PART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meaghan Morris
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Gabrielle I Coste
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Javier Redding-Ochoa
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Haidan Guo
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Austin R Graves
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Engineering, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Juan C Troncoso
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Richard L Huganir
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Donato L, Mordà D, Scimone C, Alibrandi S, D'Angelo R, Sidoti A. How Many Alzheimer-Perusini's Atypical Forms Do We Still Have to Discover? Biomedicines 2023; 11:2035. [PMID: 37509674 PMCID: PMC10377159 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11072035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer-Perusini's (AD) disease represents the most spread dementia around the world and constitutes a serious problem for public health. It was first described by the two physicians from whom it took its name. Nowadays, we have extensively expanded our knowledge about this disease. Starting from a merely clinical and histopathologic description, we have now reached better molecular comprehension. For instance, we passed from an old conceptualization of the disease based on plaques and tangles to a more modern vision of mixed proteinopathy in a one-to-one relationship with an alteration of specific glial and neuronal phenotypes. However, no disease-modifying therapies are yet available. It is likely that the only way to find a few "magic bullets" is to deepen this aspect more and more until we are able to draw up specific molecular profiles for single AD cases. This review reports the most recent classifications of AD atypical variants in order to summarize all the clinical evidence using several discrimina (for example, post mortem neurofibrillary tangle density, cerebral atrophy, or FDG-PET studies). The better defined four atypical forms are posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia (LvPPA), behavioral/dysexecutive variant and AD with corticobasal degeneration (CBS). Moreover, we discuss the usefulness of such classifications before outlining the molecular-genetic aspects focusing on microglial activity or, more generally, immune system control of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Donato
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics, Cutting-Edge Therapies, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology, Via Michele Miraglia, 98139 Palermo, Italy
| | - Domenico Mordà
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics, Cutting-Edge Therapies, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology, Via Michele Miraglia, 98139 Palermo, Italy
| | - Concetta Scimone
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics, Cutting-Edge Therapies, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology, Via Michele Miraglia, 98139 Palermo, Italy
| | - Simona Alibrandi
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Rosalia D'Angelo
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Antonina Sidoti
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy
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Walker JM, Goette W, Farrell K, Iida MA, Karlovich E, White CL, Crary JF, Richardson TE. The relationship between hippocampal amyloid beta burden and spatial distribution of neurofibrillary degeneration. Alzheimers Dement 2023; 19:3158-3170. [PMID: 36738450 PMCID: PMC11100308 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Neurofibrillary degeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD) typically involves the entorhinal cortex and CA1 subregion of the hippocampus early in the disease process, whereas in primary age-related tauopathy (PART), there is an early selective vulnerability of the CA2 subregion. METHODS Image analysis-based quantitative pixel assessments were used to objectively evaluate amyloid beta (Aβ) burden in the medial temporal lobe in relation to the distribution of hyperphosphorylated-tau (p-tau) in 142 cases of PART and AD. RESULTS Entorhinal, CA1, CA3, and CA4 p-tau deposition levels are significantly correlated with Aβ burden, while CA2 p-tau is not. Furthermore, the CA2/CA1 p-tau ratio is inversely correlated with Aβ burden and distribution. In addition, cognitive impairment is correlated with overall p-tau burden. DISCUSSION These data indicate that the presence and extent of medial temporal lobe Aβ may determine the distribution and spread of neurofibrillary degeneration. The resulting p-tau distribution patterns may discriminate between PART and AD. HIGHLIGHTS Subregional hyperphosphorylated-tau (p-tau) distribution is influenced by hippocampal amyloid beta burden. Higher CA2/CA1 p-tau ratio is predictive of primary age-related tauopathy-like neuropathology. Cognitive function is correlated with the overall hippocampal p-tau burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie M. Walker
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - William Goette
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Kurt Farrell
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Megan A. Iida
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Esma Karlovich
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - The PART Working Group
- The PART working group is a multi-institutional collaboration. PART working group investigators are listed in the acknowledgments section
| | - Charles L. White
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - John F. Crary
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Timothy E. Richardson
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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8
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Morris M, Coste GI, Redding-Ochoa J, Guo H, Graves AR, Troncoso JC, Huganir RL. Hippocampal Synaptic Alterations Associated with Tau Pathology in Primary Age-Related Tauopathy. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.02.22.23286323. [PMID: 36865237 PMCID: PMC9980270 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.22.23286323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Primary Age-Related Tauopathy (PART) is characterized by the aggregation of tau in the mesial temporal lobe in older individuals. High pathologic tau stage (Braak stage) or a high burden of hippocampal tau pathology have been associated with cognitive impairment in PART. However, the underlying mechanisms of cognitive impairment in PART are not well understood. Cognitive impairment in many neurodegenerative diseases correlates with synaptic loss, raising the question of whether synaptic loss occurs in PART. To address this, we investigated synaptic changes associated with tau Braak stage and a high tau pathology burden in PART using synaptophysin and phospho-tau immunofluorescence. We compared twelve cases of definite PART with six young controls and six Alzheimer's disease cases. In this study, we identified loss of synaptophysin puncta and intensity in the CA2 region of the hippocampus in cases of PART with either a high stage (Braak IV) or a high burden of neuritic tau pathology. There was also loss of synaptophysin intensity in CA3 associated with a high stage or high burden of tau pathology. Loss of synaptophysin signal was present in AD, but the pattern was distinct from that seen in PART. These novel findings suggest the presence of synaptic loss in PART associated with either a high hippocampal tau burden or a Braak stage IV. These synaptic changes raise the possibility that synaptic loss in PART could contribute to cognitive impairment, though future studies including cognitive assessments are needed to address this question.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meaghan Morris
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Gabrielle I Coste
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Javier Redding-Ochoa
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Haidan Guo
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Austin R Graves
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Baltimore, MD
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD
| | - Juan C Troncoso
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Richard L Huganir
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Baltimore, MD
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Walker JM, Gonzales MM, Goette W, Farrell K, White CL, Crary JF, Richardson TE. Cognitive and Neuropsychological Profiles in Alzheimer's Disease and Primary Age-Related Tauopathy and the Influence of Comorbid Neuropathologies. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 92:1037-1049. [PMID: 36847012 PMCID: PMC11138480 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease neuropathologic change (ADNC) is defined by the progression of both hyperphosphorylated-tau (p-tau) and amyloid-β (Aβ) and is the most common underlying cause of dementia worldwide. Primary age-related tauopathy (PART), an Aβ-negative tauopathy largely confined to the medial temporal lobe, is increasingly being recognized as an entity separate from ADNC with diverging clinical, genetic, neuroanatomic, and radiologic profiles. OBJECTIVE The specific clinical correlates of PART are largely unknown; we aimed to identify cognitive and neuropsychological differences between PART, ADNC, and subjects with no tauopathy (NT). METHODS We compared 2,884 subjects with autopsy-confirmed intermediate-high stage ADNC to 208 subjects with definite PART (Braak stage I-IV, Thal phase 0, CERAD NP score "absent") and 178 NT subjects from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center dataset. RESULTS PART subjects were older than either ADNC or NT patients. The ADNC cohort had more frequent neuropathological comorbidities as well as APOE ɛ4 alleles than the PART or NT cohort, and less frequent APOE ɛ2 alleles than either group. Clinically, ADNC patients performed significantly worse than NT or PART subjects across cognitive measures, but PART subjects had selective deficits in measures of processing speed, executive function, and visuospatial function, although additional cognitive measures were further impaired in the presence of neuropathologic comorbidities. In isolated cases of PART with Braak stage III-IV, there are additional deficits in measures of language. CONCLUSION Overall, these findings demonstrate underlying cognitive features specifically associated with PART, and reinforce the concept that PART is a distinct entity from ADNC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie M. Walker
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s & Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Mitzi M. Gonzales
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s & Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - William Goette
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Kurt Farrell
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Charles L. White
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - John F. Crary
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Timothy E. Richardson
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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10
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The central role of tau in Alzheimer’s disease: From neurofibrillary tangle maturation to the induction of cell death. Brain Res Bull 2022; 190:204-217. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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11
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Zhao Z, Zhang L, Luo W, Cao Z, Zhu Q, Kong X, Zhu K, Zhang J, Wu D. Layer-specific microstructural patterns of anterior hippocampus in Alzheimer's disease with ex vivo diffusion MRI at 14.1 T. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 44:458-471. [PMID: 36053237 PMCID: PMC9842914 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
High-resolution ex vivo diffusion MRI (dMRI) can provide exquisite mesoscopic details and microstructural information of the human brain. Microstructural pattern of the anterior part of human hippocampus, however, has not been well elucidated with ex vivo dMRI, either in normal or disease conditions. The present study collected high-resolution (0.1 mm isotropic) dMRI of post-mortem anterior hippocampal tissues from four Alzheimer's diseases (AD), three primary age-related tauopathy (PART), and three healthy control (HC) brains on a 14.1 T spectrometer. We evaluated how AD affected dMRI-based microstructural features in different layers and subfields of anterior hippocampus. In the HC samples, we found higher anisotropy, lower diffusivity, and more streamlines in the layers within cornu ammonis (CA) than those within dentate gyrus (DG). Comparisons between disease groups showed that (1) anisotropy measurements in the CA layers of AD, especially stratum lacunosum (SL) and stratum radiatum (SR), had higher regional variability than the other two groups; (2) streamline density in the DG layers showed a gradually increased variance from HC to PART to AD; (3) AD also showed the higher variability in terms of inter-layer connectivity than HC or PART. Moreover, voxelwise correlation analysis between the coregistered dMRI and histopathology images revealed significant correlations between dMRI measurements and the contents of amyloid beta (Aβ)/tau protein in specific layers of AD samples. These findings may reflect layer-specific microstructural characteristics in different hippocampal subfields at the mesoscopic resolution, which were associated with protein deposition in the anterior hippocampus of AD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyong Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument ScienceZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Lei Zhang
- China Brain Bank and Department of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, and Department of NeurobiologyZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Wanrong Luo
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument ScienceZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Zuozhen Cao
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument ScienceZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Qinfeng Zhu
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument ScienceZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Xueqian Kong
- Department of ChemistryZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Keqing Zhu
- China Brain Bank and Department of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, and Department of NeurobiologyZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Jing Zhang
- China Brain Bank and Department of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, and Department of NeurobiologyZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina,Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital and School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Dan Wu
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument ScienceZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
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12
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Quintas-Neves M, Teylan MA, Morais-Ribeiro R, Almeida F, Mock CN, Kukull WA, Crary JF, Oliveira TG. Divergent magnetic resonance imaging atrophy patterns in Alzheimer's disease and primary age-related tauopathy. Neurobiol Aging 2022; 117:1-11. [PMID: 35640459 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2022.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Our study compared brain MRI with neuropathological findings in patients with primary age-related tauopathy (PART) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), while assessing the relationship between brain atrophy and clinical impairment. We analyzed 233 participants: 32 with no plaques ("definite" PART-BRAAK stage higher than 0 and CERAD 0), and 201 cases within the AD spectrum, with 25 with sparse (CERAD 1), 76 with moderate (CERAD 2), and 100 with severe (CERAD 3) degrees of neuritic plaques. Upon correcting for age, sex, and age difference at MRI and death, there were significantly higher levels of atrophy in CERAD 3 compared to CERAD 1-2 and a trend compared to PART (p = 0.06). In the anterior temporal region, there was a trend for higher levels of atrophy in PART compared to Alzheimer's disease spectrum cases with CERAD 1 (p = 0.08). We then assessed the correlation between regional brain atrophy and CDR sum of boxes score for PART and AD, and found that overall cognition deficits are directly correlated with regional atrophy in the AD continuum, but not in definite PART. We further observed correlations between regional brain atrophy with multiple neuropsychological metrics in AD, with PART showing specific correlations between language deficits and anterior temporal atrophy. Overall, these findings support PART as an independent pathologic process from AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Quintas-Neves
- Department of Neuroradiology, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal; Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Merilee A Teylan
- Department of Epidemiology, National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rafaela Morais-Ribeiro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Francisco Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Charles N Mock
- Department of Epidemiology, National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Walter A Kukull
- Department of Epidemiology, National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - John F Crary
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core, Department of Pathology, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Department of Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Friedman Brain Institute, Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tiago Gil Oliveira
- Department of Neuroradiology, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal; Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
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13
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Smirnov DS, Salmon DP, Galasko D, Edland SD, Pizzo DP, Goodwill V, Hiniker A. TDP-43 Pathology Exacerbates Cognitive Decline in Primary Age-Related Tauopathy. Ann Neurol 2022; 92:425-438. [PMID: 35696592 PMCID: PMC9391297 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Primary age-related tauopathy (PART) refers to tau neurofibrillary tangles restricted largely to the medial temporal lobe in the absence of significant beta-amyloid plaques. PART has been associated with cognitive impairment, but contributions from concomitant limbic age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy neuropathologic change (LATE-NC) are underappreciated. METHODS We compare prevalence of LATE-NC and vascular copathologies in age- and Braak-matched patients with PART (n = 45, Braak stage I-IV, Thal phase 0-2) or early stage Alzheimer disease neuropathologic change (ADNC; n = 51, Braak I-IV, Thal 3-5), and examine their influence on clinical and cognitive decline. RESULTS Concomitant LATE-NC and vascular pathology were equally common, and cognition was equally impaired, in PART (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] = 24.8 ± 6.9) and ADNC (MMSE = 24.2 ± 6.0). Patients with LATE-NC were more impaired than those without LATE-NC on the MMSE (by 5.8 points, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.0-8.6), Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (DRS; 17.5 points, 95% CI = 7.1-27.9), Clinical Dementia Rating, sum of boxes scale (CDR-sob; 5.2 points, 95% CI = 2.1-8.2), memory composite (0.8 standard deviations [SD], 95% CI = 0.1-1.6), and language composite (1.1 SD, 95% CI = 0.2-2.0), and more likely to receive a dementia diagnosis (odds ratio = 4.8, 95% CI = 1.5-18.0). Those with vascular pathology performed worse than those without on the DRS (by 10.2 points, 95% CI = 0.1-20.3) and executive composite (1.3 SD, 95% CI = 0.3-2.3). Cognition declined similarly in PART and ADNC over the 5 years preceding death; however, LATE-NC was associated with more rapid decline on the MMSE (β = 1.9, 95% CI = 0.9-3.0), DRS (β = 7.8, 95% CI = 3.4-12.7), CDR-sob (β = 1.9, 95% CI = 0.4-3.7), language composite (β = 0.5 SD, 95% CI = 0.1-0.8), and vascular pathology with more rapid decline on the DRS (β = 5.2, 95% CI = 0.6-10.2). INTERPRETATION LATE-NC, and to a lesser extent vascular copathology, exacerbate cognitive impairment and decline in PART and early stage ADNC. ANN NEUROL 2022;92:425-438.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis S. Smirnov
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego
| | - David P. Salmon
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego
| | - Douglas Galasko
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System
| | - Steven D. Edland
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego
- School of Public Health, University of California, San Diego
| | - Donald P. Pizzo
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego
| | | | - Annie Hiniker
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego
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14
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Savola S, Kaivola K, Raunio A, Kero M, Mäkelä M, Pärn K, Palta P, Tanskanen M, Tuimala J, Polvikoski T, Tienari PJ, Paetau A, Myllykangas L. Primary Age‐Related Tauopathy (PART) in a Finnish Population‐Based Study of the Oldest Old (Vantaa 85+). Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2021; 48:e12788. [PMID: 34927275 PMCID: PMC9305229 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Aims Few studies have investigated primary age‐related tauopathy (PART) in a population‐based setting. Here, we assessed its prevalence, genetic background, comorbidities and features of cognitive decline in an unselected elderly population. Methods The population‐based Vantaa 85+ study includes all 601 inhabitants of Vantaa aged ≥ 85 years in 1991. Neuropathological assessment was possible in 301. Dementia (DSM IIIR criteria) and Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were assessed at the baseline of the study and follow‐ups. PART subjects were identified according to the criteria by Crary et al and were compared with subjects with mild and severe Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathological changes. The effects of other neuropathologies were taken into account using multivariate and sensitivity assays. Genetic analyses included APOE genotypes and 29 polymorphisms of the MAPT 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR region). Results The frequency of PART was 20% (n = 61/301, definite PART 5%). When PART subjects were compared with those with severe AD pathology, dementia was less common, its age at onset was higher and duration shorter. No such differences were seen when compared with those with milder AD pathology. However, both AD groups showed a steeper decline in MMSE scores in follow‐ups compared with PART. APOE ε4 frequency was lower, and APOE ε2 frequency higher in the PART group compared with each AD group. The detected nominally significant associations between PART and two MAPT 3′UTR polymorphisms and haplotypes did not survive Bonferroni correction. Conclusions PART is common among very elderly. PART subjects differ from individuals with AD‐type changes in the pattern of cognitive decline, associated genetic and neuropathological features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Savola
- Department of Pathology University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
- Department of Pathology, HUS Diagnostic Center Helsinki University Hospital Helsinki Finland
| | - Karri Kaivola
- Translational Immunology, Research Programs Unit University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
- Department of Neurology University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital Helsinki Finland
| | - Anna Raunio
- Department of Pathology University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
- Department of Pathology, HUS Diagnostic Center Helsinki University Hospital Helsinki Finland
| | - Mia Kero
- Department of Pathology University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
- Department of Pathology, HUS Diagnostic Center Helsinki University Hospital Helsinki Finland
| | - Mira Mäkelä
- Department of Pathology University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
- Department of Pathology, HUS Diagnostic Center Helsinki University Hospital Helsinki Finland
| | - Kalle Pärn
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
| | - Priit Palta
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
| | - Maarit Tanskanen
- Department of Pathology University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
- Department of Pathology, HUS Diagnostic Center Helsinki University Hospital Helsinki Finland
| | - Jarno Tuimala
- Department of Pathology University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
| | - Tuomo Polvikoski
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute Newcastle University Newcastle upon Tyne United Kingdom
| | - Pentti J. Tienari
- Translational Immunology, Research Programs Unit University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
- Department of Neurology University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital Helsinki Finland
| | - Anders Paetau
- Department of Pathology University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
- Department of Pathology, HUS Diagnostic Center Helsinki University Hospital Helsinki Finland
| | - Liisa Myllykangas
- Department of Pathology University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
- Department of Pathology, HUS Diagnostic Center Helsinki University Hospital Helsinki Finland
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15
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Jellinger KA. Recent update on the heterogeneity of the Alzheimer’s disease spectrum. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2021; 129:1-24. [DOI: 10.1007/s00702-021-02449-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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16
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The effect of beta-amyloid and tau protein aggregations on magnetic susceptibility of anterior hippocampal laminae in Alzheimer's diseases. Neuroimage 2021; 244:118584. [PMID: 34537383 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have reported the changes of magnetic susceptibility induced by iron deposition in hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains. It is well-known that hippocampus is divided into well-defined laminar architecture, which, however, is difficult to be resolved with in-vivo MRI due to the limited imaging resolution. The present study aims to investigate layer-specific magnetic susceptibility in the hippocampus of AD patients using high-resolution ex-vivo MRI, and elucidate its relationship with beta amyloid (Aβ) and tau protein histology. We performed quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) and T2* mapping on postmortem anterior hippocampus samples from four AD, four Primary Age-Related Tauopathy (PART), and three control brains. We manually segmented each sample into seven layers, including four layers in the cornu ammonis1 (CA1) and three layers in the dentate gyrus (DG), and then evaluated AD-related alterations of susceptibility and T2* values and their correlations with Aβ and tau in each hippocampal layer. Specifically, we found (1) layer-specific variations of susceptibility and T2* measurements in all samples; (2) the heterogeneity of susceptibility were higher in all layers of AD patients compared with the age- and gender-matched PART cases while the heterogeneity of T2* values were lower in four layers of CA1; and (3) voxel-wise MRI-histological correlation revealed both susceptibility and T2* values in the stratum molecular (SM) and stratum lacunosum (SL) layers were correlated with the Aβ content in AD, while the T2* values in the stratum radiatum (SR) layer were correlated with the tau content in the PART but not AD. These findings suggest a selective effect of the Aβ- and tau-pathology on the susceptibility and T2* values in the different layers of anterior hippocampus. Particularly, the alterations of magnetic susceptibility in the SM and SL layers may be associated with Aβ aggregation, while those in the SR layermay reflect the age-related tau protein aggregation.
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17
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Yoon B, Guo T, Provost K, Korman D, Ward TJ, Landau SM, Jagust WJ. Abnormal tau in amyloid PET negative individuals. Neurobiol Aging 2021; 109:125-134. [PMID: 34715443 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We examined the characteristics of individuals with biomarker evidence of tauopathy but without β-amyloid (Aβ) (A-T+) in relation to individuals with (A+T+) and without (A-T-) evidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We included 561 participants with Aβ and tau PET from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). We compared A-T- (n = 316), A-T+ (n = 63), and A+T+ (n = 182) individuals on demographics, amyloid, tau, hippocampal volumes, and cognition. A-T+ individuals were low on apolipoprotein E ɛ4 prevalence (17%) and had no evidence of subtly elevated brain Aβ within the negative range. The severity of tau deposition, hippocampal atrophy, and cognitive dysfunction in the A-T+ group was intermediate between A-T- and A+T+ (all p < 0.001). Tau uptake patterns in A-T+ individuals were heterogeneous, but approximately 29% showed tau deposition in the medial temporal lobe only, consistent with primary age-related tauopathy and an additional 32% showed a pattern consistent with AD. A-T+ individuals also share other features that are characteristic of AD such as cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration, but this group is heterogeneous and likely reflects more than one disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bora Yoon
- Department of Neurology, Konyang University Hospital, Konyang University, College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
| | - Tengfei Guo
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Karine Provost
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Deniz Korman
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Tyler J Ward
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Susan M Landau
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - William J Jagust
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA; Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
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18
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Iida MA, Farrell K, Walker JM, Richardson TE, Marx GA, Bryce CH, Purohit D, Ayalon G, Beach TG, Bigio EH, Cortes EP, Gearing M, Haroutunian V, McMillan CT, Lee EB, Dickson DW, McKee AC, Stein TD, Trojanowski JQ, Woltjer RL, Kovacs GG, Kofler JK, Kaye J, White CL, Crary JF. Predictors of cognitive impairment in primary age-related tauopathy: an autopsy study. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2021; 9:134. [PMID: 34353357 PMCID: PMC8340493 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-021-01233-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary age-related tauopathy (PART) is a form of Alzheimer-type neurofibrillary degeneration occurring in the absence of amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques. While PART shares some features with Alzheimer disease (AD), such as progressive accumulation of neurofibrillary tangle pathology in the medial temporal lobe and other brain regions, it does not progress extensively to neocortical regions. Given this restricted pathoanatomical pattern and variable symptomatology, there is a need to reexamine and improve upon how PART is neuropathologically assessed and staged. We performed a retrospective autopsy study in a collection (n = 174) of post-mortem PART brains and used logistic regression to determine the extent to which a set of clinical and neuropathological features predict cognitive impairment. We compared Braak staging, which focuses on hierarchical neuroanatomical progression of AD tau and Aβ pathology, with quantitative assessments of neurofibrillary burden using computer-derived positive pixel counts on digitized whole slide images of sections stained immunohistochemically with antibodies targeting abnormal hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) in the entorhinal region and hippocampus. We also assessed other factors affecting cognition, including aging-related tau astrogliopathy (ARTAG) and atrophy. We found no association between Braak stage and cognitive impairment when controlling for age (p = 0.76). In contrast, p-tau burden was significantly correlated with cognitive impairment even when adjusting for age (p = 0.03). The strongest correlate of cognitive impairment was cerebrovascular disease, a well-known risk factor (p < 0.0001), but other features including ARTAG (p = 0.03) and hippocampal atrophy (p = 0.04) were also associated. In contrast, sex, APOE, psychiatric illness, education, argyrophilic grains, and incidental Lewy bodies were not. These findings support the hypothesis that comorbid pathologies contribute to cognitive impairment in subjects with PART. Quantitative approaches beyond Braak staging are critical for advancing our understanding of the extent to which age-related tauopathy changes impact cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan A Iida
- Department of Pathology, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, Friedman Brain Institute, Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research CoRE, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place Box 1194, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Kurt Farrell
- Department of Pathology, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, Friedman Brain Institute, Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research CoRE, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place Box 1194, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Jamie M Walker
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and The Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Timothy E Richardson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and The Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Gabriel A Marx
- Department of Pathology, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, Friedman Brain Institute, Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research CoRE, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place Box 1194, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Clare H Bryce
- Department of Pathology, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, Friedman Brain Institute, Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research CoRE, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place Box 1194, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Dushyant Purohit
- Department of Pathology, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, Friedman Brain Institute, Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research CoRE, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place Box 1194, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Gai Ayalon
- Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals, Novato, CA, USA
| | | | - Eileen H Bigio
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer Disease Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Etty P Cortes
- Department of Pathology, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, Friedman Brain Institute, Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research CoRE, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place Box 1194, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Marla Gearing
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Vahram Haroutunian
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- JJ Peters VA Medical Center (MIRECC), Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Corey T McMillan
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, Penn FTD Center, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Edward B Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Translational Neuropathology Research Laboratory, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Ann C McKee
- Department of Pathology, VA Medical Center & Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thor D Stein
- Department of Pathology, VA Medical Center & Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John Q Trojanowski
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Randall L Woltjer
- Department of Pathology, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Laboratory Medicine Program, Krembil Brain Institute University Health Network Toronto Ontario, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia K Kofler
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jeffrey Kaye
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, USA
| | - Charles L White
- Neuropathology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA
| | - John F Crary
- Department of Pathology, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, Friedman Brain Institute, Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research CoRE, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place Box 1194, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
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19
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Grøntvedt GR, Lauridsen C, Berge G, White LR, Salvesen Ø, Bråthen G, Sando SB. The Amyloid, Tau, and Neurodegeneration (A/T/N) Classification Applied to a Clinical Research Cohort with Long-Term Follow-Up. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 74:829-837. [PMID: 32116257 PMCID: PMC7242836 DOI: 10.3233/jad-191227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background: The unbiased amyloid, tau, and neurodegeneration (A/T/N) classification is designed to characterize individuals in the Alzheimer continuum and is currently little explored in clinical cohorts. Objective: A retrospective comparison of the A/T/N classification system with the results of a two-year clinical study, with extended follow-up up to 10 years after inclusion. Methods: Patients (n = 102) clinically diagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) with dementia or amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 61 cognitively healthy control individuals were included. Baseline cerebrospinal fluid core biomarkers for AD (Aβ42, phosphorylated tau, and total tau) were applied to the A/T/N classification using the final clinical diagnosis at extended follow-up as the gold standard. Results: A + T + N+ was a strong predictor for AD dementia, even among cognitively healthy individuals. Amnestic MCI was heterogenous, considering both clinical outcome and distribution within A/T/N. Some individuals with amnestic MCI progressed to clinical AD dementia within all four major A/T/N groups. The highest proportion of progression was among triple positive cases, but progression was also common in individuals with suspected non-Alzheimer pathophysiology (A-T + N+), and those with triple negative status. A-T-N- individuals who were cognitively healthy overwhelmingly remained cognitively intact over time, but in amnestic MCI the clinical outcome was heterogenous, including AD dementia, other dementias, and recovery. Conclusion: The A/T/N framework accentuates biomarkers over clinical status. However, when selecting individuals for research, a combination of the two may be necessary since the prognostic value of the A/T/N framework depends on clinical status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gøril Rolfseng Grøntvedt
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, University Hospital of Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Camilla Lauridsen
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, University Hospital of Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Guro Berge
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Linda R White
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, University Hospital of Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Øyvind Salvesen
- Unit for Applied Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Geir Bråthen
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, University Hospital of Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Sigrid Botne Sando
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, University Hospital of Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
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20
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Hickman RA, Flowers XE, Wisniewski T. Primary Age-Related Tauopathy (PART): Addressing the Spectrum of Neuronal Tauopathic Changes in the Aging Brain. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2020; 20:39. [PMID: 32666342 DOI: 10.1007/s11910-020-01063-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Primary age-related tauopathy (PART) was recently proposed as a pathologic diagnosis for brains that harbor neurofibrillary tangles (Braak stage ≤ 4) with little, if any, amyloid burden. We sought to review the clinicopathologic findings related to PART. RECENT FINDINGS Most adult human brains show at least focal tauopathic changes, and the majority of individuals with PART do not progress to dementia. Older age and cognitive impairment correlate with increased Braak stage, and multivariate analyses suggest that the rate of cognitive decline is less than matched patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). It remains unclear whether PART is a distinct tauopathic entity separate from AD or rather represents an earlier histologic stage of AD. Cognitive decline in PART is usually milder than AD and correlates with tauopathic burden. Biomarker and ligand-based radiologic studies will be important to define PART antemortem and prospectively follow its natural history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard A Hickman
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology and the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 West 168th Street, PH 15-124, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| | - Xena E Flowers
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology and the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 West 168th Street, PH 15-124, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Thomas Wisniewski
- Departments of Neurology, Pathology and Psychiatry, Center for Cognitive Neurology, NYU School of Medicine, Science Building, Rm 1017, 435 East 30th Street, New York, NY, 10016, USA
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21
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Gauthreaux K, Bonnett TA, Besser LM, Brenowitz WD, Teylan M, Mock C, Chen YC, Chan KCG, Keene CD, Zhou XH, Kukull WA. Concordance of Clinical Alzheimer Diagnosis and Neuropathological Features at Autopsy. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2020; 79:465-473. [PMID: 32186726 PMCID: PMC7160616 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlaa014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
It remains unclear what clinical features inform the accuracy of a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD). Data were obtained from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center to compare clinical and neuropathologic features among participants who did or did not have Alzheimer disease neuropathologic changes (ADNC) at autopsy. Participants (1854) had a clinical Alzheimer dementia diagnosis and ADNC at autopsy (Confirmed-AD), 204 participants had an AD diagnosis and no ADNC (AD-Mimics), and 253 participants had no AD diagnosis and ADNC (Unidentified-AD). Compared to Confirmed-AD participants, AD-Mimics had less severe cognitive impairment, while Unidentified-AD participants displayed more parkinsonian signs, depression, and behavioral problems. This study highlights the importance of developing a complete panel of biomarkers as a tool to inform clinical diagnoses, as clinical phenotypes that are typically associated with diseases other than AD may result in inaccurate diagnoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Gauthreaux
- Department of Epidemiology, National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Tyler A Bonnett
- Clinical Monitoring Research Program Directorate, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research Sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Lilah M Besser
- School of Urban and Regional Planning, Institute for Human Health and Disease Intervention, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida
| | - Willa D Brenowitz
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Merilee Teylan
- Department of Epidemiology, National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | | | | | - Kwun C G Chan
- Department of Epidemiology, National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - C Dirk Keene
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Xiao-Hua Zhou
- Department of Epidemiology, National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Walter A Kukull
- Department of Epidemiology, National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
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22
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Mock C, Teylan M, Beecham G, Besser L, Cairns NJ, Crary JF, Katsumata Y, Nelson PT, Kukull W. The Utility of the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center's Database for the Rapid Assessment of Evolving Neuropathologic Conditions. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 2020; 34:105-111. [PMID: 32304374 PMCID: PMC7242145 DOI: 10.1097/wad.0000000000000380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The field of dementia research is rapidly evolving, especially with regards to our understanding of the diversity of neuropathologic changes that underlie cognitive decline. Definitions and criteria for known conditions are being periodically revised and refined, and new findings are being made about neuropathologic features associated with dementia status. The database maintained by the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) offer researchers a robust, rapid, and statistically well-powered method to evaluate the implications of newly identified neuropathologic conditions with regards to comorbidities, demographic associations, cognitive status, neuropsychologic tests, radiographic findings, and genetics. NACC data derive from dozens of excellent US Alzheimer disease research centers, which collectively follow thousands of research volunteers longitudinally. Many of the research participants are autopsied using state-of-the-art methods. In this article, we describe the NACC database and give examples of its use in evaluating recently revised neuropathologic diagnoses, including primary age-related tauopathy (PART), limbic predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE), and the preclinical stage of Alzheimer disease neuropathologic change, based on the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association consensus guidelines. The dementia research community is encouraged to make use of this readily available database as new neuropathologic changes are recognized and defined in this rapidly evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Mock
- National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center, University of Washington, WA
| | - Merilee Teylan
- National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center, University of Washington, WA
| | - Gary Beecham
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | | | - Nigel J. Cairns
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - John F. Crary
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core, Departments of Pathology & Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Yuriko Katsumata
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
| | - Peter T. Nelson
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
| | - Walter Kukull
- National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center, University of Washington, WA
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23
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Teylan M, Mock C, Gauthreaux K, Chen YC, Chan KCG, Hassenstab J, Besser LM, Kukull WA, Crary JF. Cognitive trajectory in mild cognitive impairment due to primary age-related tauopathy. Brain 2020; 143:611-621. [PMID: 31942622 PMCID: PMC7009602 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awz403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary age-related tauopathy is increasingly recognized as a separate neuropathological entity different from Alzheimer's disease. Both share the neuropathological features of tau aggregates and neuronal loss in the temporal lobe, but primary age-related tauopathy lacks the requisite amyloid plaques central to Alzheimer's disease. While both have similar clinical presentations, individuals with symptomatic primary age-related tauopathy are commonly of more advanced ages with milder cognitive dysfunction. Direct comparison of the neuropsychological trajectories of primary age-related tauopathy and Alzheimer's disease has not been thoroughly evaluated and thus, our objective was to determine how cognitive decline differs longitudinally between these two conditions after the onset of clinical symptoms. Data were obtained from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center on participants with mild cognitive impairment at baseline and either no neuritic plaques (i.e. primary age-related tauopathy) or moderate to frequent neuritic plaques (i.e. Alzheimer neuropathological change) at subsequent autopsy. For patients with Alzheimer's disease and primary age-related tauopathy, we compared rates of decline in the sum of boxes score from the CDR® Dementia Staging Instrument and in five cognitive domains (episodic memory, attention/working memory, executive function, language/semantic memory, and global composite) using z-scores for neuropsychological tests that were calculated based on scores for participants with normal cognition. The differences in rates of change were tested using linear mixed-effects models accounting for clinical centre clustering and repeated measures by individual. Models were adjusted for sex, age, education, baseline test score, Braak stage, apolipoprotein ε4 (APOE ε4) carrier status, family history of cognitive impairment, and history of stroke, hypertension, or diabetes. We identified 578 participants with a global CDR of 0.5 (i.e. mild cognitive impairment) at baseline, 126 with primary age-related tauopathy and 452 with Alzheimer's disease. Examining the difference in rates of change in CDR sum of boxes and in all domain scores, participants with Alzheimer's disease had a significantly steeper decline after becoming clinically symptomatic than those with primary age-related tauopathy. This remained true after adjusting for covariates. The results of this analysis corroborate previous studies showing that primary age-related tauopathy has slower cognitive decline than Alzheimer's disease across multiple neuropsychological domains, thus adding to the understanding of the neuropsychological burden in primary age-related tauopathy. The study provides further evidence to support the hypothesis that primary age-related tauopathy has distinct neuropathological and clinical features compared to Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merilee Teylan
- National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Charles Mock
- National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kathryn Gauthreaux
- National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Yen-Chi Chen
- National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kwun C G Chan
- National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jason Hassenstab
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Lilah M Besser
- School of Urban and Regional Planning, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA
| | - Walter A Kukull
- National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - John F Crary
- Neuropathology Brain Bank and Research CoRE, Department of Pathology, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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24
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Quintas-Neves M, Teylan MA, Besser L, Soares-Fernandes J, Mock CN, Kukull WA, Crary JF, Oliveira TG. Magnetic resonance imaging brain atrophy assessment in primary age-related tauopathy (PART). Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:204. [PMID: 31818331 PMCID: PMC6902469 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0842-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized pathologically by the accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Recently, primary age-related tauopathy (PART) has been described as a new anatomopathological disorder where NFTs are the main feature in the absence of neuritic plaques. However, since PART has mainly been studied in post-mortem patient brains, not much is known about the clinical or neuroimaging characteristics of PART. Here, we studied the clinical brain imaging characteristics of PART focusing on neuroanatomical vulnerability by applying a previously validated multiregion visual atrophy scale. We analysed 26 cases with confirmed PART with paired clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisitions. In this selected cohort we found that upon correcting for the effect of age, there is increased atrophy in the medial temporal region with increasing Braak staging (r = 0.3937, p = 0.0466). Upon controlling for Braak staging effect, predominantly two regions, anterior temporal (r = 0.3638, p = 0.0677) and medial temporal (r = 0.3836, p = 0.053), show a trend for increased atrophy with increasing age. Moreover, anterior temporal lobe atrophy was associated with decreased semantic memory/language (r = - 0.5823, p = 0.0056; and r = - 0.6371, p = 0.0019, respectively), as was medial temporal lobe atrophy (r = - 0.4445, p = 0.0435). Overall, these findings support that PART is associated with medial temporal lobe atrophy and predominantly affects semantic memory/language. These findings highlight that other factors associated with aging and beyond NFTs could be involved in PART pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Merilee A Teylan
- Department of Epidemiology, National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Lilah Besser
- School of Urban and Regional Planning, Institute for Human Health and Disease Intervention, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida, USA
| | | | - Charles N Mock
- Department of Epidemiology, National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Walter A Kukull
- Department of Epidemiology, National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - John F Crary
- Department of Pathology, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tiago Gil Oliveira
- Division of Neuroradiology, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal.
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
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