Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
Published on Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (https://www.j-alz.com)

Home > Reversal of LTP-Like Cortical Plasticity in Alzheimer's Disease Patients with Tau-Related Faster Clinical Progression.

TitleReversal of LTP-Like Cortical Plasticity in Alzheimer's Disease Patients with Tau-Related Faster Clinical Progression.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsKoch, G, Di Lorenzo, F, Del Olmo, MFernandez, Bonní, S, Ponzo, V, Caltagirone, C, Bozzali, M, Martorana, A
JournalJ Alzheimers Dis
Volume50
Issue2
Pagination605-16
Date Published2016
ISSN1875-8908
KeywordsAged, Alzheimer Disease, Amyloid beta-Peptides, Cognition, Disease Progression, Evoked Potentials, Motor, Female, Humans, Male, Motor Cortex, Neuronal Plasticity, Neuropsychological Tests, Phosphorylation, tau Proteins, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Abstract

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of amyloid-β (Aβ), total tau (t-tau), and phosphorylated tau proteins are associated with different clinical progression in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We enrolled forty newly diagnosed AD patients, who underwent lumbar puncture, and carried out a K-means cluster analysis based on CSF biomarkers levels, resulting in two AD patient groups: Cluster 1 showed relatively high levels of Aβ and low levels of tau; Cluster 2 showed relatively low levels of Aβ and high levels of tau. Cortical plasticity was tested using the intermittent and continuous theta burst stimulation (iTBS and cTBS) protocols evoking respectively long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD). Cholinergic transmission was tested by the short-latency afferent inhibition protocol. Neurophysiological evaluation showed that the two AD groups differed in terms of cortical plasticity: after iTBS, Cluster 2 patients showed a remarkable reversal of LTP toward LTD that was not observed in Cluster 1. LTD and central cholinergic transmission did not differ between groups. Patients were assessed longitudinally with Mini-Mental State Examination at 6, 12, and 18 month follow-ups. Cluster 2 AD had a faster cognitive decline already evident at the 12 month follow-up. High tau CSF levels were associated with LTD-like cortical plasticity and faster clinical progression. These results suggest that more aggressive tau pathology is associated with prominent LTD-like mechanisms of cortical plasticity and faster cognitive decline.

DOI10.3233/JAD-150813
Alternate JournalJ. Alzheimers Dis.
PubMed ID26757193
E-mail Icon
Comment Icon
  • Comment
Bookmark Icon Bookmark Recommend Icon Recommend Follow Icon Follow
  • Comment
| Bookmark | Recommend | Follow

Source URL: https://www.j-alz.com/content/reversal-ltp-cortical-plasticity-alzheimers-disease-patients-tau-related-faster-clinical