| 1. |
- Vogel, Jacob W., et al.
(author)
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Four distinct trajectories of tau deposition identified in Alzheimer’s disease
- 2021
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In: Nature Medicine. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1078-8956 .- 1546-170X. ; 27:5, s. 871-881
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by the spread of tau pathology throughout the cerebral cortex. This spreading pattern was thought to be fairly consistent across individuals, although recent work has demonstrated substantial variability in the population with AD. Using tau-positron emission tomography scans from 1,612 individuals, we identified 4 distinct spatiotemporal trajectories of tau pathology, ranging in prevalence from 18 to 33%. We replicated previously described limbic-predominant and medial temporal lobe-sparing patterns, while also discovering posterior and lateral temporal patterns resembling atypical clinical variants of AD. These ‘subtypes’ were stable during longitudinal follow-up and were replicated in a separate sample using a different radiotracer. The subtypes presented with distinct demographic and cognitive profiles and differing longitudinal outcomes. Additionally, network diffusion models implied that pathology originates and spreads through distinct corticolimbic networks in the different subtypes. Together, our results suggest that variation in tau pathology is common and systematic, perhaps warranting a re-examination of the notion of ‘typical AD’ and a revisiting of tau pathological staging. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc.
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| 2. |
- Zhou, XP, et al.
(author)
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Non-coding variability at the APOE locus contributes to the Alzheimer's risk
- 2019
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In: Nature communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 10:1, s. 3310-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a leading cause of mortality in the elderly. While the coding change of APOE-ε4 is a key risk factor for late-onset AD and has been believed to be the only risk factor in the APOE locus, it does not fully explain the risk effect conferred by the locus. Here, we report the identification of AD causal variants in PVRL2 and APOC1 regions in proximity to APOE and define common risk haplotypes independent of APOE-ε4 coding change. These risk haplotypes are associated with changes of AD-related endophenotypes including cognitive performance, and altered expression of APOE and its nearby genes in the human brain and blood. High-throughput genome-wide chromosome conformation capture analysis further supports the roles of these risk haplotypes in modulating chromatin states and gene expression in the brain. Our findings provide compelling evidence for additional risk factors in the APOE locus that contribute to AD pathogenesis.
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| 3. |
- Ally, M., et al.
(author)
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Cross-sectional and longitudinal evaluation of plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein to detect and predict clinical syndromes of Alzheimer's disease
- 2023
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In: Alzheimer's and Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment and Disease Monitoring. - 2352-8729. ; 15:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: This study examined plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) as a biomarker of cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) with and against plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL), and phosphorylated tau (p-tau)181+231.Methods: Plasma samples were analyzed using Simoa platform for 567 participants spanning the AD continuum. Cognitive diagnosis, neuropsychological testing, and dementia severity were examined for cross-sectional and longitudinal outcomes.Results: Plasma GFAP discriminated AD dementia from normal cognition (adjusted mean difference = 0.90 standard deviation [SD]) and mild cognitive impairment (adjusted mean difference = 0.72 SD), and demonstrated superior discrimination compared to alternative plasma biomarkers. Higher GFAP was associated with worse dementia severity and worse performance on 11 of 12 neuropsychological tests. Longitudinally, GFAP predicted decline in memory, but did not predict conversion to mild cognitive impairment or dementia.Discussion: Plasma GFAP was associated with clinical outcomes related to suspected AD and could be of assistance in a plasma biomarker panel to detect in vivo AD.
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| 4. |
- Jack, C. R., et al.
(author)
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Magnetic resonance imaging in Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative 2
- 2015
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In: Alzheimers & Dementia. - : Wiley. - 1552-5260 .- 1552-5279. ; 11:7, s. 740-756
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) is now in its 10th year. The primary objective of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) core of ADNI has been to improve methods for clinical trials in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related disorders. Methods: We review the contributions of the MRI core from present and past cycles of ADNI (ADNI-1, -Grand Opportunity and -2). We also review plans for the future-ADNI-3. Results: Contributions of the MRI core include creating standardized acquisition protocols and quality control methods; examining the effect of technical features of image acquisition and analysis on outcome metrics; deriving sample size estimates for future trials based on those outcomes; and piloting the potential utility of MR perfusion, diffusion, and functional connectivity measures in multicenter clinical trials. Discussion: Over the past decade the MRI core of ADNI has fulfilled its mandate of improving methods for clinical trials in AD and will continue to do so in the future. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the Alzheimer's Association.
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| 5. |
- Morrison, M. S., et al.
(author)
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Ante-mortem plasma phosphorylated tau (181) predicts Alzheimer's disease neuropathology and regional tau at autopsy
- 2022
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In: Brain. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0006-8950 .- 1460-2156. ; 145:10, s. 3546-3557
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In one of the largest studies of its kind, Morrison et al. show that ante-mortem plasma phosphorylated-tau(181) concentrations accurately differentiate brain donors with and without autopsy-confirmed Alzheimer's disease. Blood tests could be a minimally invasive, cost-effective tool for the detection and monitoring of Alzheimer's disease. Blood-based biomarkers such as tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (phosphorylated-tau(181)) represent an accessible, cost-effective and scalable approach for the in vivo detection of Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology. Plasma-pathological correlation studies are needed to validate plasma phosphorylated-tau(181) as an accurate and reliable biomarker of Alzheimer's disease neuropathological changes. This plasma-to-autopsy correlation study included participants from the Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center who had a plasma sample analysed for phosphorylated-tau(181) between 2008 and 2018 and donated their brain for neuropathological examination. Plasma phosphorelated-tau(181) was measured with single molecule array technology. Of 103 participants, 62 (60.2%) had autopsy-confirmed Alzheimer's disease. Average time between blood draw and death was 5.6 years (standard deviation = 3.1 years). Multivariable analyses showed higher plasma phosphorylated-tau(181) concentrations were associated with increased odds for having autopsy-confirmed Alzheimer's disease [AUC = 0.82, OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.03-1.11, P < 0.01; phosphorylated-tau standardized (z-transformed): OR = 2.98, 95% CI = 1.50-5.93, P < 0.01]. Higher plasma phosphorylated-tau(181) levels were associated with increased odds for having a higher Braak stage (OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.02-1.09, P < 0.01) and more severe phosphorylated-tau across six cortical and subcortical brain regions (ORs = 1.03-1.06, P < 0.05). The association between plasma phosphorylated-tau(181) and Alzheimer's disease was strongest in those who were demented at time of blood draw (OR = 1.25, 95%CI = 1.02-1.53), but an effect existed among the non-demented (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.01-1.10). There was higher discrimination accuracy for Alzheimer's disease when blood draw occurred in years closer to death; however, higher plasma phosphorylated-tau(181) levels were associated with Alzheimer's disease even when blood draw occurred >5 years from death. Ante-mortem plasma phosphorylated-tau(181) concentrations were associated with Alzheimer's disease neuropathology and accurately differentiated brain donors with and without autopsy-confirmed Alzheimer's disease. These findings support plasma phosphorylated-tau(181) as a scalable biomarker for the detection of Alzheimer's disease.
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| 6. |
- Sugarman, M. A., et al.
(author)
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A longitudinal examination of plasma neurofilament light and total tau for the clinical detection and monitoring of Alzheimer's disease
- 2020
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In: Neurobiology of Aging. - : Elsevier BV. - 0197-4580. ; 94, s. 60-70
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We examined baseline and longitudinal associations between plasma neurofilament light (NfL) and total tau (t-tau), and the clinical presentation of Alzheimer's disease (AD). A total of 579 participants (238, normal cognition [NC]; 185, mild cognitive impairment [MCI]; 156, AD dementia) had baseline blood draws; 82% had follow-up evaluations. Plasma samples were analyzed for NfL and t-tau using Simoa technology. Baseline plasma NfL was higher in AD dementia than MCI (standardized mean difference = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.37–0.73) and NC (standardized mean difference = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.49–0.88), corresponded to Clinical Dementia Rating scores (OR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.35–2.79]), and correlated with all neuropsychological tests (r's = 0.13–0.42). Longitudinally, NfL did not predict diagnostic conversion but predicted decline on 3/10 neuropsychological tests. Baseline plasma t-tau was higher in AD dementia than NC with a small effect (standardized mean difference = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.10–0.57) but not MCI. t-tau did not statistically significant predict any longitudinal outcomes. Plasma NfL may be useful for the detection of AD dementia and monitoring of disease progression. In contrast, there was minimal evidence in support of plasma t-tau. © 2020 Elsevier Inc.
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| 9. |
- Frank, Brandon, et al.
(author)
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Plasma p-tau181 shows stronger network association to Alzheimer's disease dementia than neurofilament light and total tau.
- 2022
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In: Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association. - : Wiley. - 1552-5279. ; 18:8, s. 1523-1536
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We examined the ability of plasma hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau)181 to detect cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) independently and in combination with plasma total tau (t-tau) and neurofilament light (NfL).Plasma samples were analyzed using the Simoa platform for 235 participants with normal cognition (NC), 181 with mild cognitive impairment due to AD (MCI), and 153 with AD dementia. Statistical approaches included multinomial regression and Gaussian graphical models (GGMs) to assess a network of plasma biomarkers, neuropsychological tests, and demographic variables.Plasma p-tau181 discriminated AD dementia from NC, but not MCI, and correlated with dementia severity and worse neuropsychological test performance. Plasma NfL similarly discriminated diagnostic groups. Unlike plasma NfL or t-tau, p-tau181 had a direct association with cognitive diagnosis in a bootstrapped GGM.These results support plasma p-tau181 for the detection of AD dementia and the use of blood-based biomarkers for optimal disease detection.
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