Microglial activation, but not tau pathology, is independently associated with amyloid positivity and memory impairment.

TitleMicroglial activation, but not tau pathology, is independently associated with amyloid positivity and memory impairment.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2020
AuthorsZou J, Tao S, Johnson A, Tomljanovic Z, Polly K, Klein J, Razlighi QR, Brickman AM, Lee S, Stern Y, Kreisl WCharles
JournalNeurobiol Aging
Volume85
Pagination11-21
Date Published2020 01
ISSN1558-1497
KeywordsAged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease, Amyloid, Female, Humans, Male, Memory Disorders, Microglia, Middle Aged, Positron-Emission Tomography, tau Proteins
Abstract

We sought to determine if upstream amyloid accumulation and downstream cognitive impairment have independent relationships with microglial activation and tau pathology. Fifty-eight older adults were stratified by amyloid and cognitive status based on F-florbetaben PET, history, and neuropsychological testing. Of these, 57 had C-PBR28 PET to measure microglial activation and 43 had F-MK-6240 PET to measure tau pathology. Amyloid and cognitive status were associated with increased overall binding for both C-PBR28 and F-MK-6240 (p's < 0.01). While there was no interaction between amyloid and cognitive status in their association with C-PBR28 binding (p = 0.6722), there was an interaction in their association with F-MK-6240 binding (p = 0.0115). Binding of both radioligands was greater in amyloid-positive controls than in amyloid-negative controls; however, this difference was seen in neocortical regions for C-PBR28 and only in medial temporal cortex for F-MK-6240. We conclude that, in the absence of cognitive symptoms, amyloid deposition has a greater association with microglial activation than with tau pathology.

DOI10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.09.019
Alternate JournalNeurobiol Aging
PubMed ID31698286
PubMed Central IDPMC6919274
Grant ListR56 AG034189 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P50 AG008702 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
RF1 AG054023 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG037212 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
UL1 TR000040 / TR / NCATS NIH HHS / United States
RF1 AG038465 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P01 AG007232 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
K23 AG052633 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P30 AG066462 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG026158 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
Related Institute: 
Brain Health Imaging Institute (BHII)

Weill Cornell Medicine
Department of Radiology
525 East 68th Street New York, NY 10065