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. 2022 Apr 1;14(1):e12256.
doi: 10.1002/dad2.12256. eCollection 2022.

Role of tau deposition in early cognitive decline in Down syndrome

Sigan L Hartley  1   2 , Benjamin L Handen  3 , Dana Tudorascu  3 , Laise Lee  3 , Annie Cohen  3 , Brianna Piro-Gambetti  1   2 , Matthew Zammit  1   4 , William Klunk  3 , Charles Laymon  5 , Shahid Zaman  6 , Beau M Ances  7 , Marwan Sabbagh  8 , Bradley T Christian  1   4
Affiliations

Role of tau deposition in early cognitive decline in Down syndrome

Sigan L Hartley et al. Alzheimers Dement (Amst). .

Abstract

Introduction: Drawing on the amyloid/tau/neurodegeneration (AT[N]) model, the study examined whether the tau positron emission tomography (PET) biomarker [18F]AV-1451 was associated with episodic memory problems beyond what was predicted by the amyloid beta (Aβ) PET in Down syndrome (DS).

Methods: Data from 123 non-demented adults with DS (M = 47 years, standard deviation = 6.34) were analyzed. The Cued Recall Test assessed episodic memory. Tau PET standardized update value ratio (SUVR) was assessed across Braak regions as continuous and binary (high tau [TH] vs. low tau [TL]) variable. Global PET Aβ SUVR was assessed as binary variable (Aβ- vs. Aβ+).

Results: In models adjusting for controls, tau SUVR was negatively associated with episodic memory performance in the Aβ+ but not Aβ- group. The Aβ+/TH group evidenced significantly worse episodic memory than the Aβ+/TL group.

Discussion: Similar to late-onset and autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease (AD), high tau was an indicator of early prodromal AD in DS.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Down syndrome; amyloid; memory; positron emission tomography; tau.

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Conflict of interest statement

GE Healthcare holds a license agreement with the University of Pittsburgh for the [11C]PiB PET technology involved in this study. Dr. William Klunk is a co‐inventor of [11C]PiB and has financial interest in this license agreement. GE Healthcare did not provide financial support for this study nor did it have a role in designing the study, interpreting results, or manuscript writing. No other authors have relationships, activities, or interests to disclose related to this manuscript.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Boxplots depicting median and variability of Free + Cued Total score by positron emission tomography amyloid beta (Aβ– vs. Aβ+) and tau (TL vs. TH) status in Braak regions I to VI. Brackets highlight significant (**P < .010) group comparisons for episodic memory score in models adjusted for site, premorbid intellectual disability, and chronological age
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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