Symptomatology in 4-repeat tauopathies is associated with data-driven topology of [18F]-PI-2620 tau-PET signal

• DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103402
• Publication Date: 2023-04-12T00:18:07Z
• Authors: Sonja Schönecker; Carla Palleis; Nicolai Franzmeier; Sabrina Katzdobler; Christian Ferschmann; Sebastian Schuster; Anika Finze; Maximilian Scheifele; Catharina Prix; Urban Fietzek; Endy Weidinger; Georg Nübling; Jonathan Vöglein; Marianne Patt; Henryk Barthel; Osama Sabri; Adrian Danek; Günter U. Höglinger; Matthias Brendel; Johannes Levin
• Keywords: Tauopathy; Corticobasal degeneration

In recent years in vivo visualization of tau deposits has become possible with various PET radiotracers. The tracer [18F]PI-2620 proved high affinity both to 3-repeat/4-repeat Alzheimer's disease as well 4-repeat progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal syndrome (CBS). However, be clinically relevant, biomarkers should not only correlate pathological changes but also stage progression. Therefore, we aimed investigate the correlation between topology uptake symptomatology tauopathies. 72 patients or probable tauopathy, i.e. 31 PSP-Richardson's (PSP-RS), 30 amyloid-negative CBS 11 PSP-non-RS/CBS, underwent [18F]PI-2620-PET. Principal component analysis was performed identify groups similar brain regions based on 20–40 min p.i. regional standardized value ratio z-scores. Correlations scores items PSP Rating Scale were explored. Motor signs like gait, arising from chair postural instability showed a positive mesial frontoparietal lobes medial superior frontal gyrus adjacent anterior cingulate cortex. While disorientation bradyphrenia parietooccipital junction, negatively correlated tau-PET signal caudate nucleus thalamus. Total Score trend towards negative patients, main finding binding thalamus cortex gait motor signs, PSP-RS correlations clinical specific cerebral could detected. Our data reveal Longitudinal studies will needed address whether deterioration symptoms over time can monitored by tauopathies may serve marker progression future therapeutic trials. detected due an increasing atrophy these leading partial volume effects relative decrease course. As correlating differ depending phenotype, precise knowledge is necessary when interpreting results.