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ARTICLE | Clinical News

PET imaging shows tau's link to AD severity

May 13, 2016 12:37 AM UTC

Researchers using PET imaging showed that temporal lobe levels of microtubule-associated protein tau (tau; MAPT; FTDP-17) are a better predictor of cognitive dysfunction and Alzheimer's disease stage than beta amyloid levels in any brain region. The Washington University in St. Louis group published the (see BioCentury Innovations, March 24).

In the study, tau levels -- particularly in the hippocampus and other temporal lobe regions -- were associated more closely with clinical dementia rating (CDR) scale scores and performance in a variety of cognitive tests, despite the earlier rise in beta amyloid levels. The researchers measured the two proteins across 42 brain regions in 10 patients with mild disease and 36 controls. ...