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Tau deposition is associated with functional isolation of the hippocampus in aging
Harrison TM, Maass A, Adams JN, Du R, Baker SL, Jagust WJ.. Nature communications, 2019-10-25
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
The tau protein aggregates in aging and Alzheimer disease and may lead to memory loss through disruption of medial temporal lobe (MTL)-dependent memory systems. Here, we investigated tau-mediated mechanisms of hippocampal dysfunction that underlie the expression of episodic memory decline using fMRI measures of hippocampal local coherence (regional homogeneity; ReHo), distant functional connectivity and tau-PET. We show that age and tau pathology are related to higher hippocampal ReHo. Functional disconnection between the hippocampus and other components of the MTL memory system, particularly an anterior-temporal network specialized for object memory, is also associated with higher hippocampal ReHo and greater tau burden in anterior-temporal regions. These associations are not observed in the posteromedial network, specialized for context/spatial information. Higher hippocampal ReHo predicts worse memory performance. These findings suggest that tau pathology plays a role in disconnecting the hippocampus from specific MTL memory systems leading to increased local coherence and memory decline.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Harrison, T. M., Maass, A., Adams, J. N., Du, R., Baker, S. L., & Jagust, W. J. (2019). Tau deposition is associated with functional isolation of the hippocampus in aging. Nature communications. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-12921-z
Vancouver
Harrison TM, Maass A, Adams JN, Du R, Baker SL, Jagust WJ. Tau deposition is associated with functional isolation of the hippocampus in aging. Nature communications. 2019. doi:10.1038/s41467-019-12921-z. PMID: 31653847.
BibTeX
@article{harrison2019-31653847,
author = {Harrison, T. M. and Maass, A. and Adams, J. N. and Du, R. and Baker, S. L. and Jagust, W. J.},
title = {{Tau deposition is associated with functional isolation of the hippocampus in aging}},
journal = {Nature communications},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-019-12921-z},
pmid = {31653847},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-12921-z}
}
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Key findings
- Functional disconnection between the hippocampus and other components of the MTL memory system, particularly an anterior-temporal network specialized for object memory, is also associated with higher hippocampal ReHo and greater tau burden in anterior-temporal regions.
- These findings suggest that tau pathology plays a role in disconnecting the hippocampus from specific MTL memory systems leading to increased local coherence and memory decline.
Why it matters
This imaging study found that greater tau burden in anterior-temporal regions was associated with higher local coherence in the hippocampus and disconnection from other medial temporal lobe memory regions, and that higher hippocampal local coherence predicted worse memory performance. It describes a possible mechanism of memory decline and does not test any treatment, cure or prevention.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 53/100
Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Nature communications) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Nature Communications: journal h-index 747 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| 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 | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 109 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 12.1 citations a year over 9 year(s) since 2019 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 3 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 42 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 | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 31653847) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 53 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12921-z
- PubMed: 31653847
- Original source →
- Free full text: Nature Communications →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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