Scientists Find Clue to Why Alzheimer's Can Progress Faster
Summary
A study comparing brain scans found that people with early-onset Alzheimer's had higher and more widespread tau levels than people with late-onset disease, and tau accumulated faster over time. The findings may help explain faster decline in some younger patients, but the researchers said group results cannot predict an individual's course.Key Facts
- The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, analyzed tau PET scans from 390 people with early-onset Alzheimer's and 211 with late-onset Alzheimer's.
- All participants had evidence of amyloid buildup and either mild cognitive impairment or dementia.
- At the start, the early-onset group had higher tau levels across multiple brain regions, even after researchers accounted for cognitive impairment and amyloid burden.
- Tau deposits were more widely spread through the cortex in participants with early-onset Alzheimer's.
- Follow-up scans showed faster tau accumulation in the early-onset group; modeling indicated the late-onset group took more than five additional years to reach comparable tau levels.
- Higher tau levels were more closely linked to poorer memory and daily-function test scores among younger participants.
- Researchers said early-onset Alzheimer's can involve language, visual-processing, or executive-function problems, which may delay diagnosis.
- The researchers said earlier diagnosis and treatments that target tau may be important, while noting that some amyloid-targeting drugs have shown greater benefit in patients with lower tau levels.
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