An exploratory 18F-Florzolotau tau PET study in putative body-first versus brain-first Parkinson’s disease
摘要
The proposed body-first and brain-first Parkinson’s disease (PD) subtypes are classified based on the initial localization of α-synuclein inclusions. Emerging evidence indicates the copathology of α-synuclein and tau in PD. However, the topographical pattern of tau deposition and its difference between these two phenotypes remain unclear. This study aimed to describe the tau deposits via 18F-Florzolotau PET/CT imaging in PD patients with the putative body-first and brain-first subtypes.
MethodsA total of ten PD patients with presumed body-first subtypes (PDpRBD+), sixteen PD patients with presumed brain-first subtypes (PDpRBD–), and seventeen healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. Clinical assessments and 18F-Florzolotau PET imaging were conducted.
Results18F-Florzolotau uptake was higher in the right precuneus and left posterior cingulate regions in the PDpRBD+ group than in the PDpRBD– group. Additionally, 18F-Florzolotau uptake in the right limbic and paralimbic structures was inversely correlated with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores in PD patients with the putative body-first subtype.
ConclusionOur preliminary findings demonstrated distinct 18F-Florzolotau uptake patterns between the hypothesized PD subtypes. These results provide in vivo evidence of subtype-related differences in tau PET signals, suggesting potential heterogeneity beyond classical α-synuclein pathology, though further validation is warranted.