In vivo imaging of propagation of tau pathology in chronic traumatic encephalopathy

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K07935
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52030:Psychiatry-related
• Research Institution: National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Takahata Keisuke 国立研究開発法人量子科学技術研究開発機構, 量子医科学研究所 脳機能イメージング研究部, 研究員 (20645311)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 慢性外傷性脳症 / タウオパチー / PET / 頭部外傷 / GFAP / 遅発性脳障害

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with mild-repetitive traumatic brain injury. In this study, we performed PET scans with 11C-PiB and 18F-florzolotau, structual MRI, and blood biomarker measurements on 51 TBI patients (mean age 44.8 years, 36 with repetitive mild TBI and 13 with single severe TBI) and 27 healthy subjects (mean age 45.6 years). The repetitive mild TBI (professional boxer) group showed a significant increase in 18F-florzolotau compared to the healthy group in areas such as bilateral frontal lobes. 18F-florzolotau SUVR values in the gray matter positively correlated with cumulative brain damage and plama GFAP levels. We also assessed binding properties of 18F-florzolotau on CTE tau aggregates using human brain samples provided by Boston University.

Free Research Field

精神医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

TBIによって生じるさまざまな晩期後遺症の中でも反復性軽度頭部外傷によって引き起こされる慢性外傷性脳症(CTE)は、国内外で大きな問題となっているが、これまで早期診断法は存在しなかった。本研究は、18F-florzolotau を用いたPETがTBIによって引き起こされる脳内タウ蓄積を高精度に検出することを示し、慢性外傷性脳症の早期診断法の確立に大きく資する研究成果が得られ、予防や新規治療法の開発への応用が期待される。