| Title: |
Tau-PET imaging and blood biomarkers reveal early tauopathy in special operations forces exposed to repetitive blast |
| Authors: |
Lora, Shamantha J; Rhind, Shawn G; Watling, Sarah E; Narciso, Lucas; Warsh, Jerry; Vartanian, Oshin; McCluskey, Tina; Tyndale, Rachel F; Tartaglia, Maria Carmela; Shiu, Maria Y; Vallée, Isabelle; Crouzat, Mike; Vergie, Iain; Vasdev, Neil; Boileau, Isabelle |
| Contributors: |
Department of National Defence; Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research; Defence Research and Development Canada; Azrieli Foundation; Canada Foundation for Innovation; Ontario Research Fund |
| Source: |
Brain Communications ; volume 8, issue 2 ; ISSN 2632-1297 |
| Publisher Information: |
Oxford University Press (OUP) |
| Publication Year: |
2026 |
| Description: |
Repeated low-intensity blast overpressure exposures, frequently sustained by Special Operations Forces during breaching, combat training, and weapons use, are thought to initiate tau-related neurodegenerative changes that may remain clinically silent for years. The long-term impact of cumulative blast overpressure on brain health is poorly understood, and sensitive biomarkers are needed for early detection and monitoring of subclinical injury in high-risk populations. In this cross-sectional study, 25 actively serving male Canadian Special Operations Forces personnel (mean [SD] age, 43.6 [6.1] years) with ≥16 years of breaching and explosives experience were compared with 10 age-matched Canadian Armed Forces controls (mean [SD] age, 39.8 [6.8] years) with minimal blast exposure. All participants underwent [18F]flortaucipir PET imaging to quantify cortical tau deposition, MRI, ultrasensitive digital immunoassay for plasma biomarkers, and comprehensive clinical and neurocognitive testing. Group differences in regional [18F]flortaucipir standardized uptake value ratios were assessed using analysis of covariance, and voxelwise Z-score mapping identified clusters of elevated tracer uptake (>2 SD above control mean). Linear regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between PET tau signal, plasma biomarkers, cumulative blast exposure and clinical outcomes. Special Operations Forces personnel exhibited significantly higher [18F]flortaucipir uptake in the frontal (P & 0.022) and temporal cortices (P & 0.037) compared with controls. Voxelwise mapping revealed tau clusters in 88% of exposed individuals, with nearly half localized to the frontal cortex. Elevated PET signal correlated with cumulative years of breaching, post-concussive symptoms, sleep disturbance and functional impairment. Plasma biomarkers showed converging evidence of neurodegeneration: brain-derived tau, glial fibrillary acidic protein and amyloid-β42 levels were significantly associated with regional tau PET ... |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| Language: |
English |
| DOI: |
10.1093/braincomms/fcag070 |
| DOI: |
10.1093/braincomms/fcag070/67319787/fcag070.pdf |
| Availability: |
https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcag070; https://academic.oup.com/braincomms/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/braincomms/fcag070/67319787/fcag070.pdf; https://academic.oup.com/braincomms/article-pdf/8/2/fcag070/67319787/fcag070.pdf |
| Rights: |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.18D0C1E3 |
| Database: |
BASE |