Increased Plasma Amyloid and Tau Concentrations associated with Decreased Mechanical Integrity of Braak Regions Measured with Magnetic Resonance Elastography

This work is the first to examine the relationship between the mechanical properties in the brain and plasma-based amyloid and tau biomarkers. Reduced stiffness in the hippocampus and ERC likely reflect microstructural disruption from protein accumulation. These results in a small pilot cohort provide evidence supporting that MRE measures are sensitive to the impact on brain mechanics of these protein aggregates - measured with cost-efficient and accessible blood-based biomarkers for application in early detection of AD progression. Longitudinal data from this cohort will further clarify the dynamics of amyloid and tau accumulation and their impact on brain mechanics and cognitive decline.