Global Brain Activity and Its Coupling with Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow is Related to Tau Pathology

Overview

Journal Alzheimers Dement

Specialties Neurology
Psychiatry

Date 2024 Nov 7

PMID 39508716

Authors

Feng Han

JiaQie Lee

Xi Chen

Jacob Ziontz

Tyler Ward

Susan M Landau

Suzanne L Baker

Theresa M Harrison

William J Jagust

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Factors responsible for the deposition of pathological tau in the brain are incompletely understood. This study links macroscale tau deposition in the human brain to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow dynamics using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI).

Methods: Low-frequency (< 0.1 Hz) resting-state global brain activity is coupled with CSF flow and potentially reflects CSF dynamics-related clearance. We examined the correlation between rsfMRI measures of CSF inflow and global activity (gBOLD-CSF coupling) as a predictor, interacting with amyloid beta (Aβ), of tau and cortical thickness (dependent variables) across Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) participants from cognitively unimpaired through mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Results: Tau deposition in Aβ+ participants, accompanied by cortical thinning and cognitive decline, is associated with decreased gBOLD-CSF coupling. Tau mediates the relationship between coupling and thickness.

Discussion: Findings suggest that resting-state global brain activity and CSF movements comodulate Alzheimer's tau deposition, presumably related to CSF clearance.

Highlights: A non-invasive functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) assessment of a CSF clearance-related process is carried out. Global brain activity is coupled with CSF inflow in human fMRI during resting state. Global fMRI-CSF coupling is correlated with tau in Alzheimer's disease (AD). This coupling measure is also associated with cortical thickness, mediated by tau.

Citing Articles

Global brain activity and its coupling with cerebrospinal fluid flow is related to tau pathology.

Han F, Lee J, Chen X, Ziontz J, Ward T, Landau S Alzheimers Dement. 2024; 20(12):8541-8555.

PMID: 39508716 PMC: 11667553. DOI: 10.1002/alz.14296.

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