PET shows ApoE4 carriers may benefit from earlier AD treatment

PET imaging has revealed brain pathology linked to faster clinical progression of Alzheimer’s disease in patients with ApoE4 gene variants, according to a study published November 6 in JAMA Neurology.Based on PET scans from patients enrolled in previous studies, researchers found that ApoE4 carriers showed an acceleration of amyloid-mediated tau spreading compared with ApoE4 noncarriers. The study provides evidence that these patients may benefit from earlier treatments, suggested lead author Anna Steward, of Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, and colleagues.“The timing of therapeutic windows in anti-amyloid therapies may need special consideration in ApoE4 carriers compared to noncarriers to successfully attenuate tau spreading,” the group wrote.In Alzheimer's disease, beta-amyloid deposits are thought to initiate the spreading of neurofibrillary tau tangles in specific cortical regions, which is believed to drive neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. Thus, drugs that target beta-amyloid should ideally be applied at low tau levels to inhibit this “cascade” and slow tau-related neurodegeneration, according to the group.Carriage of the ApoE4 allele is the strongest known risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer’s disease, yet it is unclear whether or not this genetic variant causes tau spreading at lower beta-amyloid levels than other patients, the researchers added.“It is therefore crucial to determine [beta-amyloid] thresholds at which tau spreading is trigge...
Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Subspecialties Molecular Imaging Neuroradiology Source Type: news