FMRI Complexity Correlates with Tau-PET and Cognitive Decline in Late-Onset and Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer's Disease

Kay Jann; Julia Boudreau; Daniel Albrecht; Steven Y Cen; Ryan P Cabeen; John M Ringman; Danny J J Wang; Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative

doi:10.3233/JAD-220851

FMRI Complexity Correlates with Tau-PET and Cognitive Decline in Late-Onset and Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer's Disease

J Alzheimers Dis. 2023;95(2):437-451. doi: 10.3233/JAD-220851.

Authors

Kay Jann¹, Julia Boudreau², Daniel Albrecht³, Steven Y Cen^{2

4}, Ryan P Cabeen³, John M Ringman², Danny J J Wang¹; Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Functional MRI Technology (LOFT), USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
² Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
³ Laboratory of NeuroImaging (LONI), USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁴ Department of Radiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Abstract

Background: Neurofibrillary tangle pathology detected with tau-PET correlates closely with neuronal injury and cognitive symptoms in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Complexity of rs-fMRI has been demonstrated to decrease with cognitive decline in AD.

Objective: We hypothesize that the rs-fMRI complexity provides an index for tau-related neuronal injury and cognitive decline in the AD process.

Methods: Data was obtained from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI3) and the Estudio de la Enfermedad de Alzheimer en Jalisciences (EEAJ) study. Associations between tau-PET and rs-fMRI complexity were calculated. Potential pathways relating complexity to cognitive function mediated through tau-PET were assessed by path analysis.

Results: We found significant negative correlations between rs-fMRI complexity and tau-PET in medial temporal lobe of both cohorts, and associations of rs-fMRI complexity with cognitive scores were mediated through tau-PET.

Conclusion: The association of rs-fMRI complexity with tau-PET and cognition, suggests that a reduction in complexity is indicative of tau-related neuropathology and cognitive decline in AD processes.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; complexity; multi scale entropy; rs-fMRI; tau-PET.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Alzheimer Disease* / diagnostic imaging
Alzheimer Disease* / genetics
Arthrogryposis
Cognition
Cognitive Dysfunction* / diagnostic imaging
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Neurofibrillary Tangles

Supplementary concepts

Multiple Pterygium Syndrome, Autosomal Dominant

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Supplementary concepts

Grants and funding