The Existence of Primary Age-Related Tauopathy Suggests that not all the Cases with Early Braak Stages of Neurofibrillary Pathology are Alzheimer’s Disease

Article type: Short Communication

Authors: Giaccone, Giorgio^*

Affiliations: Division of Neurology 5-Neuropathology, IRCCS Foundation, Carlo Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Giorgio Giaccone, MD, Division of Neurology 5-Neuropathology, IRCCS Foundation, Carlo Besta Neurological Institute, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy. Tel.: +39 02 2394 2260; Fax: +39 02 2394 2101; giaccone@istituto-besta.it

Abstract: The distinction between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Primary Age-Related Tauopathy (PART) is a hotly debated issue. As most lines of evidence support the tenet that tau pathology occurs downstream of amyloid-β deposition, it seems reasonable to consider PART as a separate disease process not necessarily related to Aβ and hence AD. Following this view, the early stages of neurofibrillary pathology may not always be the forerunner of diffuse neurofibrillary changes and AD. The ongoing debate further enhances the need for greater caution against any future predictions using tau cerebrospinal fluid and imaging biomarkers.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, Braak staging, neuropathology, Primary Age-Related Tauopathy

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-150435

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 48, no. 4, pp. 919-921, 2015