Regional tau deposition reflects different pathways of subsequent neurodegeneration and memory decline in cognitively normal older adults.

Our results suggest that tau may affect memory through different mechanisms in normal aging and AD. Early tau deposition independent of Aβ predicts subsequent hippocampal atrophy that may lead to memory deficits in normal older individuals, whereas elevated cortical tau deposition is associated with cortical thinning that may lead to more severe memory decline in AD. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.