Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42418471›Full record

ArticleAlzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association2026

Modular brain networks shape amyloid-driven tau spread and cognitive decline.

Fabian Hirsch, Lukas Frontzkowski, Anna Steward, Sebastian N Roemer-Cassiano, Davina Biel, Zeyu Zhu, Carla Palleis, Johannes Gnörich, Madleen Klonowski, Günter Höglinger and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Fabian HirschInstitute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Lukas FrontzkowskiInstitute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Anna StewardInstitute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Sebastian N Roemer-CassianoInstitute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Davina BielInstitute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Zeyu ZhuInstitute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Carla PalleisDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Johannes GnörichDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Madleen KlonowskiInstitute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Günter HöglingerDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Matthias BrendelDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Nicolai FranzmeierInstitute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9736-2283

Funding

Alzheimer's Association AARG-22-973496BrightFocus Foundation A2021026SDeutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft EXC21452SyNergy-ID390857198Gerhard und Ilse Schick Stiftung
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionAlzheimer's disease involves trans-synaptic spread of tau pathology from temporal lobe epicenters, driven by amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition. How modular brain network architecture shapes this process and the ensuing cognitive decline remains incompletely understood. We tested whether the efficiency with which tau epicenters access cross-network communication pathways modulates Aβ-driven tau propagation.

methodsWe combined baseline/longitudinal amyloid/tau positron emission tomography (PET) data across two independent AD cohorts (N = 490) with multimodal connectomics data. We quantified epicenter broadcast capacity (EBC), capturing whether tau epicenters preferentially access regions supporting cross-network communication or within-network communication.

resultsHigher EBC was associated with faster Aβ-related global tau accumulation, greater spatial tau spread, and steeper cognitive decline. Effects were driven by stronger epicenter communication with cross-network connectors, whereas preferential within-network routing was associated with relative containment of tau spread. DISCUSSION: We identify a mechanism through which epicenter connectivity biases Aβ-driven tau propagation toward brain-wide broadcast or regional containment, helping explain heterogeneity in disease progression.

Indexed as

Alzheimer DiseaseAmyloid beta-PeptidesBrainCognitive DysfunctionNerve Nettau ProteinsAgedAged, 80 and overConnectomeFemaleHumansMalePositron-Emission TomographyAmyloid beta-Peptidestau Proteinsgraph theoryintegrationneurodegenerationneuroimagingsegregationtauopathy

Identifiers

PMID42418471
PMCPMC13344889

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.