We examined whether mesial temporal (Me) tau relates to cognitive performance in 47 amyloid-β (Aβ)-negative, cognitively normal older adults (>60 years old). Me-tau was measured using [18F]flortaucipir-positron emission tomography standardized uptake value ratio. The effect of continuous and categorical (stratified at standardized uptake value ratio = 1.2 [21% Me-positive]) Me-tau on cognition (mini-mental state examination, pre-Alzheimer's cognitive composite, a memory composite, and a nonmemory composite score) was examined using general linear models, and associations between Me-tau and [18F]flortaucipir signal in the neocortex were assessed using voxelwise regressions (continuous) and voxelwise contrasts (categorical). In addition, we assessed the effect of age and Aβ burden on Me-tau. Both continuous and categorical Me-tau was associated with worse cognitive performance across all tests and with higher lateral temporal and parietal [18F]flortaucipir signal. Furthermore, we observed a marginal association between Me-tau and age, whereas there was no association with Aβ burden. Our findings indicate that Me-tau in Aβ-negative cognitively normal individuals, which is likely age-related (i.e., primary age-related tauopathy), might not be as benign as commonly thought.

中文翻译：

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在 β-淀粉样蛋白阴性、认知正常的个体中，颞内侧 tau 蛋白与较差的认知能力和更大的新皮质 tau 蛋白负荷有关

我们检查了近中颞 (Me) tau 是否与 47 名淀粉样蛋白 (Aβ) 阴性、认知正常的老年人（> 60 岁）的认知表现有关。Me-tau 使用 [ 18 F] flortaucipir-正电子发射断层扫描标准化摄取值比来测量。连续和分类（按标准化摄取值比率分层 = 1.2 [21% Me 阳性]）Me-tau 对认知的影响（简易精神状态检查、阿尔茨海默病前认知综合评分、记忆综合评分和非记忆综合评分） ) 使用一般线性模型进行检查，并使用体素回归（连续）和体素对比（分类）评估新皮质中 Me-tau 和 [18F] flortaucipir 信号之间的关联。此外，我们评估了年龄和 Aβ 负荷对 Me-tau 的影响。在所有测试中，连续和分类 Me-tau 均与较差的认知表现以及较高的侧颞和顶叶 [18F] flortaucipir 信号相关。此外，我们观察到 Me-tau 与年龄之间存在边际关联，而与 Aβ 负荷无关。我们的研究结果表明，Aβ 阴性认知正常个体中的 Me-tau 可能与年龄相关（即原发性年龄相关 tau 蛋白病变），可能不像通常认为的那样良性。