The Influence of Vascular Burden, Amyloid Plaque and Tau Protein in Patients With Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia With Tauopathy

The Influence of Vascular Burden, Amyloid Plaque and Tau Protein in Patients With Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia With Tauopathy

Background and objects Amyloid plaques and tau protein are the landmarks of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD). On the other hand, it is reported that cerebral ischemia may induce amyloid plaques and tau protein accumulation. However, it was difficult to in vivo disentangle the complex and dynamic interactions between AD pathophysiology and cerebral vascular injury during the post-stroke cognitive impairment development in the past. With the advent of novel radiotracers specific to cerebral amyloid plaques and tau protein, we aim to conduct a prospective multimodal neuroimaging cohort study to investigate the contribution of vascular injury, amyloid plaque and tau protein to cognitive impairment.

Subjects and methods The prospective project plans to recruit patients with vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) (Group A, n=80), Alzheimer's disease/mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (Group B, n = 120), fronto-temporal dementia (FTD) (Group C, n =30), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) (Group E, n = 80). In addition, another 30 healthy people will be recruited as the control group (Group D, n=30). [18F]AV45 and [18F]MNI-958(PMPBB3) PET will be done for imaging cerebral amyloid plaque and tau protein distribution, brain MRI for obtaining structural and functional information, and neuropsychological tests for cognitive performance. Cognitive evaluation will be repeated 18 months after recruitment. In addition, APOE genotyping will be performed as well.

By obtaining the neuroimaging information, such as severity of white matter change and infarction, cortical and hippocampal atrophy, and SUVRs of [18F]AV-45 and [18F]MNI-958(PMPBB3) PET, the study will be able to investigate the composite influence of cerebrovascular disease and neurodegenerative pathology on the trajectory of cognitive impairment. Group comparisons will be performed using the Chi-square test, independent t test, Mann-Whitney U test, ANOVA test, and multiple linear regression, where appropriate.

Anticipation In this project, we will be able to explore the distribution patterns of amyloid plaque and tau protein among dementia patients with different etiologies, and also evaluate their influence on cognition

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Inclusion criteria for VCI (Group A, n=80)

   • Males or females with age >= 20 years old.
   • Patients fulfill the AHA/ASA criteria for vascular cognitive impairment.
   • Provision of signed informed consent from the subject and the subject's legally authorized representative or caregiver (if applicable).
   • The subject has an appropriate caregiver capable of accompanying the subject, if necessary.

2. Inclusion criteria for AD / MCI (Group B, n=120)

   • Males or females with age >= 20 years old.
   • Patients fulfill the National Institute on Aging (NIA) - Alzheimer's Association Diagnostic Guidelines.
   • Provision of signed informed consent from the subject and the subject's legally authorized representative or caregiver (if applicable).
   • The subject has an appropriate caregiver capable of accompanying the subject, if necessary.

3. Inclusion criteria for FTD (Group C, n=30)

   • Males or females with age >= 20 years old.
   • Patients fulfill the criteria of probable FTD.
   • Provision of signed informed consent from the subject and the subject's legally authorized representative or caregiver (if applicable).
   • The subject has an appropriate caregiver capable of accompanying the subject, if necessary.

4. Inclusion criteria for normal control (Group D, n=30)

   • Males or females with age >= 20 years old.
   • Provision of signed informed consent.

5. Inclusion criteria for PSP (Group E, n=80)

   • Males or females with age >= 20 years old
   • Patients fulfill the 2017 Movement Disorder Society criteria of PSP.
   • Provision of signed informed consent from the subject and the subject's legally authorized representative or caregiver (if applicable)
   • The subject has an appropriate caregiver capable of accompanying the subject, if necessary.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Life expectancy less than 1 year.
• Clinically significant abnormal laboratory values (such as AST/ALT >= 3X of upper normal limits).
• Clinically significant or unstable medical or psychiatric illness.
• Epilepsy history.
• Cognitive impairment resulting from trauma or brain damage.
• Substance abuse or alcoholism in the past 3 months.
• Stroke history within the recent 3 months.