Characterization of Alzheimer Disease Biomarker Discrepancies Using Cerebrospinal Fluid Phosphorylated Tau and AV1451 Positron Emission Tomography

Importance

Fluid and imaging biomarkers of Alzheimer disease (AD) are often used interchangeably, but some biomarkers may reveal earlier stages of disease.

Objective

To characterize individuals with tau abnormality indicated by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) assay or positron emission tomography (PET).

Design, Setting, and Participants

Between 2010 and 2019, 322 participants in the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) underwent CSF and PET assessments of tau pathology. Data-driven, clinically relevant thresholds for CSF phosphorylated tau (P-tau) (≥26.64 pg/mL) and flortaucipir-PET meta–regions of interest (ROI) (standard uptake value ratio ≥1.37) indicated participants’ tau status as CSF⁻/PET⁻, CSF⁺/PET⁻, CSF⁻/PET⁺, and CSF⁺/PET⁺. Of 1659 ADNI participants with a CSF or flortaucipir assessment, 588 had both measures (1071 were excluded). Among these, 266 were further excluded because they did not have flortaucipir and CSF testing within less than 25 months, leaving 322 for analysis. Of these, 213 were cognitively unimpaired (CU); 98 had mild cognitive impairment (MCI); and 11 had AD dementia.

Main Outcomes and Measures

We compared tau-positive vs tau-negative groups as indicated by either modality or demographic and clinical variables, amyloid β–PET burden, and flortaucipir-PET binding across Braak stage–related ROIs. We also compared 5-year rates of CSF P-tau accumulation and cognitive decline prior to flortaucipir-PET scanning.

Results

Among the 322 study participants, 180 were women (56%), and the mean (SD) age was 73.08 (7.37) years. Two hundred ten participants were CSF⁻/PET⁻(65%); 63 were CSF⁺/PET⁻(19.5%); 15 were CSF⁻/PET⁺(4.6%); and 34 were CSF⁺/PET⁺(10.5%). Most CSF⁻/PET⁺participants had measures near CSF or PET tau thresholds. The CSF⁺/PET⁻participants showed faster 5-year accrual of P-tau and increased flortaucipir-PET binding in early Braak ROIs but similar memory decline compared with CSF⁻/PET⁻participants. Tau-positive individuals by either measure showed increased amyloid β–PET burden. All CSF⁺/PET⁺individuals were amyloid-positive, and 26 had MCI or AD dementia (76%). Compared with the CSF⁻/PET⁻group, CSF⁺/PET⁺individuals had experienced faster 5-year accrual of CSF P-tau and decline in memory and executive function, resulting in reduced cognitive abilities at the time of flortaucipir-PET assessment.

Conclusions and Relevance

Suprathreshold CSF P-tau without flortaucipir-PET abnormality may indicate a stage of AD development characterized by early tau abnormality without measurable loss in cognitive performance. Persons with both tau CSF and PET abnormality appear to have reduced cognitive capacities resulting from faster antecedent cognitive decline. Elevation of CSF P-tau appears to precede flortaucipir-PET positivity in the progression of AD pathogenesis and related cognitive decline.