{"id":4856,"date":"2025-07-02T04:15:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T04:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scientificworld.org\/?p=4856"},"modified":"2025-07-02T04:16:03","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T04:16:03","slug":"new-brain-scan-marker-improves-alzheimers-disease-classification-in-diverse-populations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scientificworld.org\/?p=4856","title":{"rendered":"New Brain Scan Marker Improves Alzheimer\u2019s Disease Classification in Diverse Populations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A team of researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC has identified a new brain imaging benchmark that could enhance the classification of Alzheimer\u2019s disease-related changes, particularly in Hispanic and non-Hispanic white populations. The study, published in Imaging Neuroscience<\/em><\/a>, is part of the Health and Aging Brain Study\u2013Health Disparities (HABS-HD), a collaborative effort supported by the National Institute on Aging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using an advanced brain scan called tau PET, the researchers analyzed over 675 older adults to determine a threshold for tau protein accumulation linked to cognitive impairment. Tau PET scans utilize a radioactive tracer to highlight abnormal tau proteins in the brain, which are associated with Alzheimer\u2019s disease. The team established a tau “cut-point”\u2014a biomarker threshold that indicates higher Alzheimer\u2019s risk\u2014but found it was only effective under specific conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cut-point successfully distinguished cognitive impairment in participants when another abnormal protein, amyloid, was also present, but this correlation was limited to Hispanic and non-Hispanic white individuals. For non-Hispanic Black participants, the tau cut-point did not perform as expected, suggesting other factors may contribute to cognitive decline in this group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur findings highlight the need to consider diverse populations in Alzheimer\u2019s research,\u201d said senior author Meredith N. Braskie, PhD. \u201cWhile tau is a key marker, its relationship with cognitive impairment varies across ethnic groups.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study employed a novel tracer, 18F-PI-2620, to measure tau buildup in the medial temporal lobe, a brain region critical for memory. Exceeding a certain tau threshold in this area strongly indicated Alzheimer related cognitive impairment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lead author Victoria R. Tennant emphasized the importance of the findings for future research and clinical applications, while also noting the limitations in non-Hispanic Black populations. The study underscores the need for further investigation into the biological and social determinants of Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arthur W. Toga, PhD, director of the Stevens INI, highlighted the broader implications of the research: \u201cThis work advances our understanding of Alzheimer\u2019s risk and progression, paving the way for more personalized care and better outcomes for all communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study reflects ongoing efforts to ensure diagnostic tools are effective across diverse populations, addressing gaps in current Alzheimer\u2019s research.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A team of researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC has identified a new brain imaging benchmark that could enhance the classification of Alzheimer\u2019s disease-related changes, particularly in Hispanic and non-Hispanic white populations. The study, published in Imaging Neuroscience, is part of the Health and Aging Brain Study\u2013Health Disparities (HABS-HD), a collaborative effort supported […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1093],"tags":[2247,2248,2249,1433],"class_list":["post-4856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-neuroscience","tag-alzheimers-disease","tag-habs-hd","tag-hispanic","tag-neuroscience"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scientificworld.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4856","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scientificworld.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scientificworld.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scientificworld.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scientificworld.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4856"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/scientificworld.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4856\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4858,"href":"https:\/\/scientificworld.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4856\/revisions\/4858"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scientificworld.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scientificworld.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scientificworld.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}