Aging-related tau astrogliopathy (ARTAG) describes the pathological accumulation of abnormal tau proteins in a specific type of brain cell called: astrocytes. This phenomenon is related to the...Show moreAging-related tau astrogliopathy (ARTAG) describes the pathological accumulation of abnormal tau proteins in a specific type of brain cell called: astrocytes. This phenomenon is related to the aging brain but has been predominantly observed in people who have experienced frequent head trauma, such as rugby and soccer players. The presence of ARTAG has been previously linked to head trauma, yet the relationship between trauma and ARTAG development has not systematically been studied. We evaluated whether the degree and amount of head injury is a significant risk factor for the presence of ARTAG in the brain. Data from 128 post-mortem brains, donated to the Netherlands Brain Bank (NBB), were used to determine the ARTAG presence, experienced head injury and the degree of the head injury. On the dataset created, a chi-square test and a binary logistic regression were performed. Results of the chi-square test showed no significant risk factor in ARTAG presence in the brain. Furthermore, the results of a binary logistic regression on ARTAG presence showed that such presence was not significantly associated with experienced head injury. In the logistic regression we adjusted for known risk factors of ARTAG pathology; NFT-pathology, FTLD-pathology, age and sex. When adjusting for these covariables, we were able to confirm that age and the presence of NFT-pathology pose a significant risk for the presence of ARTAG in the brain, as suggested by previous studies. Overall, the present findings do not support the notion that head injury is a risk factor for ARTAG presence in the brain. However, they do align with prior indications that age and NFT-pathology are risk factors for ARTAG presence. For future research, a prospective longitudinal design is recommended to classify and monitor head injury on a more detailed level. Accuracy is of great importance as it is possible that predominantly the repeated head trauma can make a difference in the development of ARTAG.Show less
