Tau PET overlap index correlation with neuropathological findings.

Cohort studyAlzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association· Mar 2026

Tau PET overlap index correlation with neuropathological findings.

Seokbeen Lim, Jeyeon Lee, Paul H Min … Val J Lowe

Read paper

NeuropathologyCohort studyQ1IF 11.9

Tau positron emission tomography overlap index detects early tangle pathology far better than standard standardized uptake value ratios.

Tau PET overlap index correlation with neuropathological findings.

Seokbeen Lim … Val J Lowe

Alzheimer's & dementia · Mar 2026

Background

The tau positron emission tomography (positron emission tomography) overlap index (overlap index) has shown promise in maximizing signal-to-noise for longitudinal tau positron emission tomography imaging, particularly for early tau pathology, but requires validation against neuropathology.

Methods

Fifty-seven participants who underwent serial tau positron emission tomography imaging (flortaucipir) and subsequent autopsy were included.

Results

Overlap index caught early tangle pathology far more often than standardized uptake value ratios

52.2%

OI

13%

SUVR

“

Conclusion

DISCUSSION: These findings demonstrate the enhanced capacity of overlap index in serial tau positron emission tomography to robustly detect early and spatially localized tau pathology, supporting its application as a sensitive imaging metric in AD and select non-AD tauopathies.

Tau PET overlap index correlation with neuropathological findings.

Tau PET overlap index correlation with neuropathological findings.

Related papers