Early Detection of Tau Pathology

Parekh, P. A.; Badachhape, A.; Mu, Q.; Bhavane, R.; Srivastava, M.; Devkota, L.; Eriksen, J.; Tanifum, E.; Ghaghada, K.; Annapragada, A.

doi:10.1101/2021.05.14.444233

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2021.05.14.444233

Early Detection of Tau Pathology

Parekh, P. A.·Badachhape, A.·Mu, Q.·Bhavane, R.·Srivastava, M.·Devkota, L.·Eriksen, J.·Tanifum, E.·Ghaghada, K.·Annapragada, A.

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Abstract

While a definitive Alzheimers disease (AD) diagnosis remains a post-mortem exercise, the ATN Research Framework proposed by the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimers Association utilizes a score representing the presence of amyloid deposits (A), tau deposits (T) and neuronal degeneration markers (N), with A+T+ necessary for a positive diagnosis. Current detection of tau pathology lags amyloid detection by years and by the time both markers are detected the disease is fairly advanced. We describe the development of a new generation of molecular imaging probes for in vivo detection of cells undergoing abnormal phosphorylation representing the initial stages of pTau pathology, potentially enabling a very early stage diagnosis of AD. We describe a novel nanoparticle formulation that binds such abnormally phosphorylating cells in a mouse model of tau pathology, enabling in vivo visualization of the hyperphosphorylative state by magnetic resonance imaging. Our results demonstrate the potential of this novel platform to identify a correlative marker signifying the development of future tau pathology, and has implications for early-stage diagnosis of Alzheimers disease.

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Parekh, P. A., Badachhape, A., Mu, Q., Bhavane, R., Srivastava, M., Devkota, L., Eriksen, J., Tanifum, E., Ghaghada, K., Annapragada, A.. 2021-05-17. Early Detection of Tau Pathology. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.05.14.444233

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