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TauIQ: A Canonical Image Based Algorithm to Quantify Tau PET Scans
Whittington A, Gunn RN, Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.. Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine, 2021-01-30
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Tau IQ successfully calculated global tau load (Tau L ) in all 791 scans analyzed (range, -3.5% to 185.2%; mean ± SD, 23% ± 20.5%) with a nonzero additional local tau component being required in 31% of all scans (cognitively normal [CN], 22%; mild cognitive impairment [MCI], 35%; dementia, 72%). Tau IQ was compared with the best SUVR approach in the cross-sectional analysis (Tau L increase in effect size: CN- vs. CN+, +45%; CN- vs. MCI+, -5.6%; CN- vs. dementia+, +2.3%) (+/- indicates amyloid-positive or -negative) and correlation with clinical scores (Tau L increase in r 2 : CDR-SB+, 7%; MMSE+, 38%; ADAS-Cog+, 0%). Tau IQ substantially outperformed SUVR approaches in the longitudinal analysis (Tau IQ increase in power: CN+, >3.2-fold; MCI+, >2.2-fold; dementia+, >2.9-fold). Tau L as calculated by Tau IQ provides a superior approach for the quantification of tau PET data. In particular, it provides a substantial improvement in power for longitudinal analyses and the early detection of tau deposition and thus should have significant value for clinical imaging trials in AD that are investigating the attenuation of tau deposition with novel therapies.
Key findings
- Tau IQ successfully calculated global tau load (Tau L ) in all 791 scans analyzed (range, -3.5% to 185.2%; mean ± SD, 23% ± 20.5%) with a nonzero additional local tau component being required in 31% of all scans (cognitively normal [CN], 22%; mild cognitive impairment [MCI], 35%; dementia, 72%).
- Tau IQ was compared with the best SUVR approach in the cross-sectional analysis (Tau L increase in effect size: CN- vs.
- MCI+, -5.6%; CN- vs. dementia+, +2.3%) (+/- indicates amyloid-positive or -negative) and correlation with clinical scores (Tau L increase in r 2 : CDR-SB+, 7%; MMSE+, 38%; ADAS-Cog+, 0%).
- Tau IQ substantially outperformed SUVR approaches in the longitudinal analysis (Tau IQ increase in power: CN+, >3.2-fold; MCI+, >2.2-fold; dementia+, >2.9-fold).
- Tau L as calculated by Tau IQ provides a superior approach for the quantification of tau PET data.
Why it matters
This paper describes a new image-based method, Tau IQ, for measuring tau load on tau PET scans, which performed better than an existing approach in longitudinal analyses. It is a tool for quantifying scans and is proposed as useful for clinical trials testing treatments that aim to reduce tau deposition.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants615
- Effect size3.5% to 185.2%; 20.5%; 5.6%
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 53/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 51 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 53 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Nuclear Medicine: journal h-index 230 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2021 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 615 participants |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| 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 | 3 / 7 | Cited 24 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 3.4 citations a year over 7 year(s) since 2021 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.7× 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 | 1 / 4 | Cited 12 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Imperial College London: institution h-index 1,744 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 33517326) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 51 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 51 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 53 out of 100. |
| Total | 53 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — PubMed Central lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 10 Oct 2026).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Whittington, A., Gunn, R. N., & Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. (2021). TauIQ: A Canonical Image Based Algorithm to Quantify Tau PET Scans. Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine. https://doi.org/10.2967/jnumed.120.258962
Vancouver
Whittington A, Gunn RN, Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. TauIQ: A Canonical Image Based Algorithm to Quantify Tau PET Scans. Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine. 2021. doi:10.2967/jnumed.120.258962. PMID: 33517326.
BibTeX
@article{whittington2021-33517326,
author = {Whittington, A. and Gunn, R. N. and {Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative}},
title = {{TauIQ: A Canonical Image Based Algorithm to Quantify Tau PET Scans}},
journal = {Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine},
year = {2021},
doi = {10.2967/jnumed.120.258962},
pmid = {33517326},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2967/jnumed.120.258962}
}
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