Histological validation of iron as an imaging biomarker for amyloid beta and tau depositions in Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract

At present, no one can diagnose a patient with Alzheimer's disease (AD) until postmortem examination. Analyzing spatial overlap of non‐heme iron, tau protein, and amyloid beta (Aβ) depositions in consecutive tissue slices of the hippocampus of human subjects would ultimately facilitate characterization and detection of diseases, such as AD, through MRI. Iron is readily visible in T2* MRI, and has been shown to be spatially correlated with Aβ plaques. Neurofibrillary tangles of tau protein are also associated with AD. In this study, we verified iron deposition to pathology of the hippocampus. We used Olympus OlyVIA software to capture virtual microscopic images, and Adobe Photoshop to register serial stained sections of iron, tau, and Aβ. Our initial results indicate spatial similarities between all three components. We plan to perform this entire procedure for the hippocampus in hopes of providing useful diagnostic research relative to AD. Pathological validation through these images will clarify the configuration of these probable biomarkers and their specificity to AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.Grant Funding Source: NIH/NIA 1 R21 AG037843‐02, NIH/NCRR P41 RR013642‐12S1, Translational Research Fund (UCLA), and the McGinty Family Foundation