Four distinct trajectories of tau deposition identified in Alzheimer's disease

Systematic characterization of longitudinal tau variability in human Alzheimer's disease using an unbiased subtyping algorithm reveals four trajectories of tau deposition with distinct clinical features. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the spread of tau pathology throughout the cerebral cortex. This spreading pattern was thought to be fairly consistent across individuals, although recent work has demonstrated substantial variability in the population with AD. Using tau-positron emission tomography scans from 1,612 individuals, we identified 4 distinct spatiotemporal trajectories of tau pathology, ranging in prevalence from 18 to 33%. We replicated previously described limbic-predominant and medial temporal lobe-sparing patterns, while also discovering posterior and lateral temporal patterns resembling atypical clinical variants of AD. These 'subtypes' were stable during longitudinal follow-up and were replicated in a separate sample using a different radiotracer. The subtypes presented with distinct demographic and cognitive profiles and differing longitudinal outcomes. Additionally, network diffusion models implied that pathology originates and spreads through distinct corticolimbic networks in the different subtypes. Together, our results suggest that variation in tau pathology is common and systematic, perhaps warranting a re-examination of the notion of 'typical AD' and a revisiting of tau pathological staging.

Automated summary

By using an unbiased subtyping algorithm, the study systematically characterized longitudinal tau variability in human Alzheimer's disease, identifying four trajectories of tau deposition with distinct clinical features. The results suggest that variation in tau pathology is common and systematic, potentially necessitating a re-examination of the notion of 'typical AD' and a revisiting of tau pathological staging.