Visual Detection of Limbic Age-related TDP-43 Encephalopathy (LATE) in Patients with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at the University of Geneva have made significant progress in developing a new biomarker for the early detection of limbic age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE) in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Using F-18-FDG-PET scans, the team identified a subgroup of patients with LATE-like patterns, which were characterized by distinct clinical severity, medial temporal atrophy, cortical tau load, and cognitive decline. This breakthrough has the potential to provide inferential support for the specific detection of LATE, a disorder that is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's disease.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study included 70 patients with aMCI who underwent F-18-FDG-PET, amyloid-PET, tau-PET, and structural MRI, as well as baseline and follow-up cognitive evaluation.
  • Patients with LATE-like patterns had lower MMSE scores, inferior-to-medial temporal metabolism ratio, greater hippocampal atrophy, and cortical tau load compared to subjects with normal scans.
  • Patients with LATE-like patterns were significantly older and had greater inferior-to-medial temporal metabolism ratio, greater amygdalar atrophy, and lower cortical tau load than subjects with AD-like patterns.
  • Only subjects classified as AD-like showed a faster cognitive decline than negative scans.
  • The study concluded that LATE-like hypometabolic pattern in aMCI can identify a subgroup of subjects distinct from AD and controls in terms of clinical severity, medial temporal atrophy, cortical tau load, and cognitive decline.

Statistics:

  • 25 scans were classified as normal
  • 25 scans were classified as AD-like
  • 12 scans were classified as LATE-like
  • 8 scans were classified in the "other" category
  • Patients with AD-like patterns were found to be younger, with lower MMSE scores, inferior-to-medial temporal metabolism ratio, and greater hippocampal atrophy and cortical tau load compared to subjects with normal scans.
  • Patients with LATE-like patterns were significantly older, with greater inferior-to-medial temporal metabolism ratio, greater amygdalar atrophy, and lower cortical tau load compared to subjects with AD-like patterns.

Sources:

  • European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
  • University of Geneva
  • European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging - www.springerlink.com/content/1619-7070/
  • Springer - www.springer.com