Influence of alpha-synuclein on glucose metabolism in Alzheimer's disease continuum: Analyses of α-synuclein seed amplification assay and FDG-PET.

INTRODUCTION

We investigated the association between alpha-synuclein (α-syn) pathology and brain glucose metabolism across the cognitive spectrum of Alzheimer's disease (AD) co-pathologies.

METHODS

Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) data from 829 Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative participants (648 cognitively impaired [CI], 181 unimpaired [CU]) were compared between α-syn seed amplification assay (SAA) positive and negative groups. Interactions with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) AD biomarkers were examined.

RESULTS

SAA+ was associated with widespread hypometabolism among CI individuals, particularly in posterior cortical regions, independent of CSF amyloid and tau levels in the occipital lobes. Regional hypometabolism mediated the effect of α-syn SAA on disease severity in CI individuals, independent of CSF amyloid and tau levels. There were no influences of SAA on FDG-PET in CU individuals.

DISCUSSION: This study supports a model in which α-syn aggregation influences metabolic dysfunction, which then influences clinical disease severity, independent of AD. SAA+ could help optimize participant selection and outcome measures for clinical trials in AD.

HIGHLIGHTS: α-synuclein seed amplification positivity (SAA+) was associated with hypometabolism in cognitively impaired individuals. Hypometabolism mediated the influence of α-synuclein on disease severity. Occipital hypometabolism in SAA+ was independent of cerebrospinal fluid levels of Alzheimer's disease pathology. These findings can optimize future clinical trials targeting α-synuclein pathology.