Examining early cerebral amyloid beta and tau accumulation in association with cognition in a predominantly middle‐aged cohort

Abstract Background In older adults, greater amyloid (Aβ) and tau positron emission tomography (PET) binding is associated with cognitive decline and dementia. However, the association of early amyloid and tau PET accumulation with cognition at midlife remains unclear. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the associations of Aβ and tau PET with cognition in a predominately middle‐aged community‐based cohort, as well as to examine the factors that may modify these associations. Method Participants from the observational Framingham Heart Study completed cognitive assessments and underwent 11 C‐Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB) Aβ and 18 F‐Flortaucipir tau PET imaging. Associations of standardized quantitative measures of Aβ (global composite) and tau (five early regions of interest) PET retention with cognition were evaluated using linear regression models. Interactions with age, apolipoprotein ε4 status, and education were examined and stratified analyses were performed where interactions were significant. All statistical tests were two‐sided and were FDR‐corrected to account for multiple comparisons Result The sample included 423 participants (mean age 57±10 years, 50% female, Table 1). There were no significant associations between Aβ or tau and cognition in the overall sample after correcting for multiple comparisons (Table 2). Stratified analyses indicated a significant association between higher fusiform gyrus tau and poorer visuospatial function in those younger than 55 years (b=‐0.27, 95% CI ‐0.46 to ‐0.07, p=0.007) and associations between higher inferior and middle temporal tau with poorer visuospatial function in those without a college degree (inferior temporal b=‐0.25, 95% CI ‐0.02 to 0.41, p=0.01, middle temporal b=‐0.25, 95% CI ‐0.22 to 0.0, p=0.02). Conclusion The continuous range of amyloid beta and tau accumulation at midlife was not cross‐sectionally associated with cognition. However, the findings suggest that higher tau accumulation at younger ages or in the context of lower cognitive reserve may increase vulnerability for poorer cognition as early as midlife.