Beta-amyloid pathology is not always linked to AD. Previous in vivo and autopsy studies have shown that tau, and not amyloid-beta- pathology has a strong relationship with AD-related neurodegeneration and cognitive performance. Research also demonstrates that individuals with tau pathology could be a subgroup of those with amyloid-beta pathology and that the presence of both pathologies is linked to a higher risk for fast decline than amyloid-beta alone.
In the current study, researchers assessed the accuracy of tau positron emission tomography (PET) to identify individuals with amyloid beta pathology who showed prospective disease progression. To do so, they recruited 396 cognitively healthy and impaired individuals and used statistical modeling to evaluate memory loss progression. They then compared the medical histories of patients with varying levels of tau protein.
Ultimately, the researchers found that high levels of tau protein were strongly associated with cognitive decline from AD. They also found, however, that individuals who were tau negative yet amyloid-beta positive may experience a more 'begnign progression' of symptoms. Identifying the primary cause of memory loss is crucial for determining the most effective treatment pathways.
"Developing biomarker panels that measure multiple proteins simultaneously will help us understand the complexity of each patient. This approach will allow for more personalized management, tailored to the prognosis or treatment of other contributing factors," said first author of the study, Konstantinos Ioannou, Ph.D. student at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, in a press release.
Sources: Neuroscience News, Molecular Psychiatry