Tau imaging in neurodegenerative diseases

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neuropathology
• Radiochemistry

Background:

• Aggregated tau protein is central to neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD).
• Tau pathology correlates with neuronal dysfunction and cell death in AD.
• Historically, tau deposition assessment relied on invasive autopsy or biopsy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of aggregated tau in tauopathies.
• To discuss challenges in developing selective tau biomarkers.
• To explore the potential of tau PET imaging for diagnosis, prognosis, and clinical trials.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on tau PET imaging ligands.
• Analysis of diagnostic and prognostic information from in-vivo tau imaging.
• Mapping the spatial and longitudinal relationship of tau distribution with other pathologies.

Main Results:

• Development of selective in-vivo tau PET imaging ligands (e.g., [(18)F]THK523, [(18)F]AV1451).
• These ligands provide insights into early disease phases and support diagnosis and prognosis.
• Tau imaging enables tracking disease progression and understanding its relationship with other pathologies.

Conclusions:

• In-vivo tau PET imaging is revolutionizing the study of neurodegenerative diseases.
• Advances in tau tracers offer opportunities for improved diagnosis and clinical trial design.
• Understanding tau distribution is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies.