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

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.

Automated summary

This study found that rs-fMRI complexity is closely related to tau-PET detected neurodegeneration and cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. The reduction in complexity indicates tau-related neuropathology and cognitive decline in AD processes.