Cerebrospinal Fluid Tau in Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration: Clinical, Neuroimaging, and Prognostic Correlates

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Borroni, Barbara^{a; *} | Cerini, Carlo^a | Archetti, Silvana^b | Premi, Enrico^a | Cosseddu, Maura^a | Ferrari, Maria^b | Bellelli, Giuseppe^c | Gasparotti, Roberto^d | Caimi, Luigi^b | Di Luca, Monica^e | Padovani, Alessandro^a

Affiliations: [a] The Centre for Ageing Brain and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy | [b] Laboratories of Biotechnology, Brescia Hospital, Brescia, Italy | [c] Department of Rehabilitation and Alzheimer's Evaluation Unit, Cremona and Geriatric Research Group, Brescia, Italy | [d] Neuroradiology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy | [e] The Centre of Excellence for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Barbara Borroni, MD, Clinica Neurologica, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Piazza Spedali Civili 1, Brescia, Italy. Tel.: +0039 0303995632; Email: [email protected].

Abstract: Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) refers to heterogeneous clinical and biological conditions. In FTLD, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tau levels have been reported highly variable. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether CSF tau might be the hallmark of a distinct FTLD phenotype. Fifty-five FTLD patients, who underwent CSF analysis, were considered in the present study. In each patient, a wide standardized neuropsychological evaluation, and CSF tau, phospho-tau, and amyloid-β (Aβ) dosages were performed. Each patient was followed-up to five years, and outcomes carefully recorded. In a subgroup of patients (n = 24), magnetic resonance imaging scanning was performed, by using voxel-based morphometry, for grey matter investigation. The higher the CSF tau levels, the worse the neuropsychological and neuroimaging pattern, mainly characterized by greater language disturbances and left temporal grey matter loss. The same pattern, even if less significant, was associated with CSF phospho-tau, while CSF Aβ levels did not play any influence on FTLD phenotype. FTLD patients with high CSF tau showed poor prognosis compared to those with low CSF tau (p = 0.031). In FTLD, CSF tau levels might be considered a marker of neurodegeneration, associated with a specific clinical and neuroimaging picture, and significantly related to poor outcome. Further studies aimed at defining the biological underpinnings of these findings are warranted.

Keywords: Biological marker, cerebrospinal fluid, frontotemporal dementia, frontotemporal lobar degeneration, tau

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2010-101407

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 505-512, 2011