In vivo measures of tau burden are associated with atrophy in early Braak stage medial temporal lobe regions in amyloid-negative individuals

Introduction: It is unclear the degree to which tau pathology in the medial temporal lobe (MTL) measured by F-18-flortaucipir positron emission tomography relates to MTL subregional atrophy and whether this relationship differs between amyloid-beta-positive and amyloid-beta-negative individuals. Methods: We analyzed correlation of MTL F-18-flortaucipir uptake with MTL subregional atrophy measured with high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging in a region of interest and regional thickness analysis and determined the relationship between memory performance and positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging measures. Results: Both groups showed strong correlations between F-18-flortaucipir uptake and atrophy, with similar spatial patterns. Effects in the rhinal cortex recapitulated Braak staging. Correlations of memory recall with atrophy and tracer uptake were observed. Discussion: Correlation patterns between tau burden and atrophy in the amyloid-beta-negative group mimicking early Braak stages suggests that F-18-flortaucipir is sensitive to tau pathology in primary age-related tauopathy. Correlations of imaging measures with memory performance indicate that this pathology is associated with poorer cognition. (C) 2019 the Alzheimer's Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.