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Hemispheric asymmetry of tau pathology is related to asymmetric amyloid deposition in Alzheimer’s Disease

Author

Listed:
  • Toomas Erik Anijärv

    (Lund University)

  • Rik Ossenkoppele

    (Lund University
    Amsterdam UMC
    Amsterdam Neuroscience)

  • Ruben Smith

    (Lund University
    Skåne University Hospital)

  • Alexa Pichet Binette

    (Lund University
    Montréal
    Montréal)

  • Lyduine E. Collij

    (Lund University
    Amsterdam UMC
    Amsterdam Neuroscience)

  • Harry H. Behjat

    (Lund University)

  • Jonathan Rittmo

    (Lund University)

  • Linda Karlsson

    (Lund University)

  • Khazar Ahmadi

    (Ruhr University Bochum)

  • Olof Strandberg

    (Lund University)

  • Danielle Westen

    (Lund University)

  • Jacob W. Vogel

    (Lund University)

  • Erik Stomrud

    (Lund University
    Skåne University Hospital)

  • Sebastian Palmqvist

    (Lund University
    Skåne University Hospital)

  • Niklas Mattsson-Carlgren

    (Lund University
    Skåne University Hospital
    Lund University)

  • Nicola Spotorno

    (Lund University)

  • Oskar Hansson

    (Lund University)

Abstract

The distribution of tau pathology in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) shows remarkable inter-individual heterogeneity, including hemispheric asymmetry. However, the factors driving this asymmetry remain poorly understood. Here we explore whether tau asymmetry is linked to i) reduced inter-hemispheric brain connectivity (potentially restricting tau spread), or ii) asymmetry in amyloid-beta (Aβ) distribution (indicating greater hemisphere-specific vulnerability to AD pathology). We include 452 participants from the Swedish BioFINDER-2 cohort with evidence of both Aβ pathology (CSF Aβ42/40 or neocortical Aβ-PET) and tau pathology (temporal tau-PET), categorising them as left asymmetric (n = 102), symmetric (n = 306), or right asymmetric (n = 44) based on temporal lobe tau-PET uptake distribution. We assess edge-wise inter-hemispheric functional (RSfMRI; n = 318) and structural connectivity (dMRI; n = 352) but find no association between tau asymmetry and connectivity. In contrast, we observe a strong association between tau and Aβ laterality patterns based on PET uptake (n = 233; β = 0.632, p

Suggested Citation

  • Toomas Erik Anijärv & Rik Ossenkoppele & Ruben Smith & Alexa Pichet Binette & Lyduine E. Collij & Harry H. Behjat & Jonathan Rittmo & Linda Karlsson & Khazar Ahmadi & Olof Strandberg & Danielle Westen, 2025. "Hemispheric asymmetry of tau pathology is related to asymmetric amyloid deposition in Alzheimer’s Disease," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-63564-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63564-2
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