Flortaucipir tau PET findings from former professional and college American football players in the DIAGNOSE CTE research project

Yi Su, Banner Alzheimer's Institute and Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Hillary Protas, Banner Alzheimer's Institute and Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Ji Luo, Banner Alzheimer's Institute and Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Kewei Chen, Banner Alzheimer's Institute and Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Michael L. Alosco, Department of Neurology, Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Charles H. Adler, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
Laura J. Balcer, Departments of Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
Charles Bernick, Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Rhoda Au, Department of Neurology, Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Sarah J. Banks, Departments of Neuroscience and Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, California, USA.
William B. Barr, Departments of Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
Michael J. Coleman, Departments of Psychiatry and Radiology, Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
David W. Dodick, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
Douglas I. Katz, Department of Neurology, Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Kenneth L. Marek, Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Invicro, LLC, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Michael D. McClean, Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Ann C. McKee, Department of Neurology, Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Jesse Mez, Department of Neurology, Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Daniel H. Daneshvar, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA.
Joseph N. Palmisano, Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center (BEDAC), Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Elaine R. Peskind, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, VA Northwest Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System; University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Robert W. Turner, Department of Clinical Research & Leadership, The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Jennifer V. Wethe, Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
Gil Rabinovici, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
Keith Johnson, Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Mass General Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Yorghos Tripodis, Department of Neurology, Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Jeffrey L. Cummings, Department of Brain Health, Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience, School of Integrated Health Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Martha E. Shenton, Departments of Psychiatry and Radiology, Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Robert A. Stern, Department of Neurology, Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Eric M. Reiman, Banner Alzheimer's Institute and Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

3-1-2024

Journal

Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association

Volume

20

Issue

3

DOI

10.1002/alz.13602

Keywords

CTE; PET; Tau; flortaucipir; football

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Tau is a key pathology in chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Here, we report our findings in tau positron emission tomography (PET) measurements from the DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project. METHOD: We compare flortaucipir PET measures from 104 former professional players (PRO), 58 former college football players (COL), and 56 same-age men without exposure to repetitive head impacts (RHI) or traumatic brain injury (unexposed [UE]); characterize their associations with RHI exposure; and compare players who did or did not meet diagnostic criteria for traumatic encephalopathy syndrome (TES). RESULTS: Significantly elevated flortaucipir uptake was observed in former football players (PRO+COL) in prespecified regions (p < 0.05). Association between regional flortaucipir uptake and estimated cumulative head impact exposure was only observed in the superior frontal region in former players over 60 years old. Flortaucipir PET was not able to differentiate TES groups. DISCUSSION: Additional studies are needed to further understand tau pathology in CTE and other individuals with a history of RHI.

Department

Neurology

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