Crossed Hemispheric Accumulation of β-Amyloid and Tau Protein in a Patient With Typical Alzheimer Disease

Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2022 Jul-Sep;36(3):263-265. doi: 10.1097/WAD.0000000000000460. Epub 2021 Jun 16.

Abstract

Amyloid (Aβ) and tau proteins are pathologic hallmarks of Alzheimer disease (AD). It is well known that there is spatial disparity between Aβ and tau protein deposition but, crossed hemispheric accumulation of these 2 proteins has not been reported. Here we report the case of a 76-year-old woman with typical AD who underwent amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) ([ 18 F]-florbetaben) and tau PET scans ([ 18 F]PI-2620), revealing crossed accumulation of Aβ and tau in the cerebral hemisphere. A neuropsychological assessment showed impairment in memory with spared activities of daily living. In the PET analysis, amyloid deposition was observed only in the left side of the cerebral hemisphere and tau only in the right side. Neuroimaging follow-up indicated that the spatial pattern of these protein accumulations had not changed. This case suggests the possibility of independent Aβ and tau pathogenic pathways in AD.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Aged
  • Alzheimer Disease* / pathology
  • Amyloid
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods
  • tau Proteins* / metabolism

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • tau Proteins