CenTauR: Toward a universal scale and masks for standardizing tau imaging studies

Abstract

Abstract INTRODUCTION Recently, an increasing number of tau tracers have become available. There is a need to standardize quantitative tau measures across tracers, supporting a universal scale. We developed several cortical tau masks and applied them to generate a tau imaging universal scale. METHOD One thousand forty‐five participants underwent tau scans with either 18 F‐flortaucipir, 18 F‐MK6240, 18 F‐PI2620, 18 F‐PM‐PBB3, 18 F‐GTP1, or 18 F‐RO948. The universal mask was generated from cognitively unimpaired amyloid beta (Aβ)− subjects and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients with Aβ+. Four additional regional cortical masks were defined within the constraints of the universal mask. A universal scale, the CenTauR z , was constructed. RESULTS None of the regions known to display off‐target signal were included in the masks. The CenTauR z allows robust discrimination between low and high levels of tau deposits. DISCUSSION We constructed several tau‐specific cortical masks for the AD continuum and a universal standard scale designed to capture the location and degree of abnormality that can be applied across tracers and across centers. The masks are freely available at https://www.gaain.org/centaur‐project .