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Alzheimer's pathology targets distinct memory networks in the ageing brain
Maass A, Berron D, Harrison TM, Adams JN, La Joie R, Baker S, Mellinger T, Bell RK et al.. Brain : a journal of neurology, 2019-08-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Post-mortem studies indicate that in ageing and Alzheimer's disease tau tangles deposit early in the transentorhinal cortex, a region located in the anterior-temporal lobe that is critical for object memory. Group comparisons showed that tau-positive (n = 18) compared to tau-negative (n = 32) older adults showed lower mnemonic discrimination of object relative to scene images [t(48) = -3.2, P = 0.002]. The functional MRI data revealed that tau burden (but not amyloid-β) was associated with increased task activation in both systems and a loss of functional specificity, or dedifferentiation, in posterior-medial regions. While our data are cross-sectional, they indicate that with ageing, tau deposits mainly in the anterior-temporal system, which results in deficits in mnemonic object discrimination. Finally, our findings propose that the progression of tau pathology is linked to aberrant activation and dedifferentiation of specialized memory networks that is detrimental to memory function.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Maass, A., Berron, D., Harrison, T. M., Adams, J. N., La Joie, R., Baker, S., et al. (2019). Alzheimer's pathology targets distinct memory networks in the ageing brain. Brain : a journal of neurology. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awz154
Vancouver
Maass A, Berron D, Harrison TM, Adams JN, La Joie R, Baker S, et al. Alzheimer's pathology targets distinct memory networks in the ageing brain. Brain : a journal of neurology. 2019. doi:10.1093/brain/awz154. PMID: 31199481.
BibTeX
@article{maass2019-31199481,
author = {Maass, A. and Berron, D. and Harrison, T. M. and Adams, J. N. and La Joie, R. and Baker, S. and Mellinger, T. and Bell, R. K. and others},
title = {{Alzheimer's pathology targets distinct memory networks in the ageing brain}},
journal = {Brain : a journal of neurology},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.1093/brain/awz154},
pmid = {31199481},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awz154}
}
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Key findings
- Post-mortem studies indicate that in ageing and Alzheimer's disease tau tangles deposit early in the transentorhinal cortex, a region located in the anterior-temporal lobe that is critical for object memory.
- Group comparisons showed that tau-positive (n = 18) compared to tau-negative (n = 32) older adults showed lower mnemonic discrimination of object relative to scene images [t(48) = -3.2, P = 0.002].
- The functional MRI data revealed that tau burden (but not amyloid-β) was associated with increased task activation in both systems and a loss of functional specificity, or dedifferentiation, in posterior-medial regions.
- While our data are cross-sectional, they indicate that with ageing, tau deposits mainly in the anterior-temporal system, which results in deficits in mnemonic object discrimination.
- Finally, our findings propose that the progression of tau pathology is linked to aberrant activation and dedifferentiation of specialized memory networks that is detrimental to memory function.
Why it matters
In this cross-sectional study, older adults with tau deposits showed worse object memory discrimination and altered brain activation compared with those without tau. The findings link tau pathology to changes in memory networks but do not test any treatment or prevention.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants18
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 62/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Brain : a journal of neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Brain: journal h-index 503 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2019 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 18 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 205 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 22.8 citations a year over 9 year(s) since 2019 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 15.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 7 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 90 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author William J. Jagust: h-index 152 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of California, Berkeley: institution h-index 2,012 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 6 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 31199481) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 62 / 100 | — |
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