Plasma tau as a window to the brain-negative associations with brain volume and memory function in mild cognitive impairment and early alzheimer's disease
Journal
Human Brain Mapping
Journal Volume
35
Journal Issue
7
Pages
3132-3142
Date Issued
2014
Author(s)
Yang S.-Y.
Yang F.-P.G.
Tseng T.-W.
Chieh J.-J.
Chen J.-C.R.
KAI-YUAN TZEN
Hua M.-S.
Horng H.-E.
Abstract
Neurofibrillary tangles are associated with cognitive dysfunction, and hippocampal atrophy with increased CSF tau markers. However, the plasma tau levels of Alzheimer's disease (AD) have not been well studied. We investigated plasma tau by using an immunomagnetic reduction assay in 20 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD, 10 early AD dementia, and 30 healthy elders (HE). All received a 3D-brain MRI scan and a set of cognitive function test. We explored their relationships with both brain structure and cognitive functions. Images were analyzed to determine the brain volumes and gray matter densities. Patients with MCI or early AD had significantly increased plasma tau levels compared with HE. Plasma tau levels were negatively associated with the performance of logical memory, visual reproduction, and verbal fluency; also negatively associated with volume of total gray matter, hippocampus, amygdala; and gray matter densities of various regions. Regression analyses indicated that logical memory explained 0.394 and hippocampus volume predicted. 608 of the variance of plasma tau levels, both P < 0.001. Education years were negatively associated with the gray matter densities of the supramarginal (r = -0.407), middle temporal gyrus (r = -0.40) and precuneus (r = -0.377; all P < 0.05) in HE; and negatively associated with plasma tau levels in patients (r = -0.626). We propose that plasma tau may serve as a window to both structure and function of the brain. Higher education is a protective factor against AD and is associated with lower plasma tau levels in patients. ? 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
SDGs
Other Subjects
magnetic nanoparticle; tau protein; apolipoprotein E; nanoparticle; tau protein; aged; Alzheimer disease; amygdaloid nucleus; article; brain function; brain region; brain size; clinical article; cognition; controlled study; disease association; educational status; female; gray matter; gray matter density; heredity; hippocampus; human; image processing; inferior frontal gyrus; language ability; male; memory; middle temporal gyrus; mild cognitive impairment; Mini Mental State Examination; nervous system parameters; neuroimaging; nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; nuclear magnetic resonance scanner; precuneus; priority journal; protein blood level; superior frontal gyrus; superior temporal gyrus; supramarginal gyrus; Taiwan; three dimensional imaging; vision; volumetry; voxel based morphometry; blood; brain; complication; diagnostic use; genetics; Memory Disorders; middle aged; neuropsychological test; pathology; regression analysis; very elderly; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alzheimer Disease; Apolipoproteins E; Brain; Female; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Memory Disorders; Middle Aged; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Nanoparticles; Neuropsychological Tests; Regression Analysis; tau Proteins
Type
journal article