TAU PET Imaging in Northern Manhattan Study of Metabolism and Mind (TAUPET)

The burden of late onset Alzheimer's dementia (LOAD) and its antecedents is increasing without known prevention or cure, and diabetes seems to be one of the strongest risk factors. The predominating causal model in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research is based on the amyloid hypothesis, which posits that amyloid (A) deposition in the brain causes synaptic dysfunction resulting in early memory deficits and progression to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Tau has also gained increasing interest as an AD pathology feature, biomarker, and treatment target.

There are no known curative or preventive measures for LOAD. One of the strongest potential LOAD risk factors is type 2 diabetes, an abnormal elevation of blood glucose associated with microvascular and macrovascular complications including cerebrovascular disease. Many studies have reported an association of diabetes with dementia, including LOAD and vascular dementia (VD). Most studies have found that diabetes is associated with an increased risk of both LOAD and VD, with a stronger association for VD compared with LOAD. Thus, this study focuses on the relation of diabetes, pre-diabetes, and elevated glucose, with AD.