Plasma brain-derived tau is an amyloid-associated neurodegeneration biomarker in Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

Staging amyloid-beta (Aβ) pathophysiology according to the intensity of neurodegeneration could identify individuals at risk for cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In blood, phosphorylated tau (p-tau) associates with Aβ pathophysiology but an AD-type neurodegeneration biomarker has been lacking. In this multicenter study (n = 1076), we show that brain-derived tau (BD-tau) in blood increases according to concomitant Aβ (“A”) and neurodegeneration (“N”) abnormalities (determined using cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers); We used blood-based A/N biomarkers to profile the participants in this study; individuals with blood-based p-tau+/BD-tau+ profiles had the fastest cognitive decline and atrophy rates, irrespective of the baseline cognitive status. Furthermore, BD-tau showed no or much weaker correlations with age, renal function, other comorbidities/risk factors and self-identified race/ethnicity, compared with other blood biomarkers. Here we show that blood-based BD-tau is a biomarker for identifying Aβ-positive individuals at risk of short-term cognitive decline and atrophy, with implications for clinical trials and implementation of anti-Aβ therapies.

Artificial Intelligence Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease From MRI Scans

“…Our study constitutes a significant advancement in the field of neurology, representing a substantial progression from prior research endeavors that have integrated AI into neurological diagnostics. Unlike previous studies that have primarily explored AI's utility in diagnosing various neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and brain tumors, our investigation hones in on PD, a prevalent and complex neurodegenerative disorder [25,26]. By focusing our efforts on PD diagnosis, we aim to address a critical gap in the existing literature and provide a targeted solution to a pressing clinical need.…”