Journal Article

DZNE-2020-07131

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Level of education mitigates the impact of tau pathology on neuronal function.

Hoenig, M. C. (Corresponding author) ; Bischof, G. N. ; Onur, Ö. A. ; Kukolja, J. ; Jessen, F.DZNE* ; Fliessbach, K.DZNE* ; Neumaier, B. ; Fink, G. R. ; Kalbe, E. ; Drzezga, A.DZNE* ; Eimeren, T. (Last author)DZNE* ; Initiative, A. D. N.

2019
Springer-Verl. Heidelberg [u.a.]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1007/s00259-019-04342-3

Abstract: Using PET imaging in a group of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), we investigated whether level of education, a proxy for resilience, mitigates the harmful impact of tau pathology on neuronal function.We included 38 patients with mild-to-moderate AD (mean age 67 ± 7 years, mean MMSE score 24 ± 4, mean years of education 14 ± 4; 20 men, 18 women) in whom a [18F]AV-1451 scan (a measure of tau pathology) and an [18F]FDG scan (a measure of neuronal function) were available. The preprocessed PET scans were z-transformed using templates for [18F]AV-1451 and [18F]FDG from healthy controls, and subsequently thresholded at a z-score of ≥3.0, representing an one-tailed p value of 0.001. Next, three volumes were computed in each patient: the tau-specific volume (tau pathology without neuronal dysfunction), the FDG-specific volume (neuronal dysfunction without tau pathology), and the overlap volume (tau pathology and neuronal dysfunction). Mean z-scores and volumes were extracted and used as dependent variables in regression analysis with years of education as predictor, and age and MMSE score as covariates.Years of education were positively associated with tau-specific volume (β = 0.362, p = 0.022), suggesting a lower impact of tau pathology on neuronal function in patients with higher levels of education. Concomitantly, level of education was positively related to tau burden in the overlap volume (β = 0.303, p = 0.036) implying that with higher levels of education more tau pathology is necessary to induce neuronal dysfunction.In patients with higher levels of education, tau pathology is less paralleled by regional and remote neuronal dysfunction. The data suggest that early life-time factors such as level of education support resilience mechanisms, which ameliorate AD-related effects later in life.

Keyword(s): Aged (MeSH) ; Alzheimer Disease: diagnostic imaging (MeSH) ; Alzheimer Disease: metabolism (MeSH) ; Alzheimer Disease: pathology (MeSH) ; Alzheimer Disease: physiopathology (MeSH) ; Educational Status (MeSH) ; Female (MeSH) ; Humans (MeSH) ; Male (MeSH) ; Neurons: pathology (MeSH) ; Positron-Emission Tomography (MeSH) ; tau Proteins: metabolism (MeSH)

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Clinical Alzheimer’s Disease Research (AG Jessen)
2. Patient Studies (Bonn) (Patient Studies (Bonn))
3. Positron Emissions Tomography (PET) (AG Boecker)

Research Program(s):

1. 344 - Clinical and Health Care Research (POF3-344) (POF3-344)

Appears in the scientific report 2019

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Database coverage:
; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Clinical Medicine ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; IF >= 10 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Web of Science Core Collection

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