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Concurrent Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Is Associated With Elevated Tau Concentrations in Peripheral Blood Plasma
Author(s) -
Pattinson Cassandra L.,
Gill Jessica M.,
Lippa Sara M.,
Brickell Tracey A.,
French Louis M.,
Lange Rael T.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1002/jts.22418
Subject(s) - traumatic brain injury , medicine , cohort , posttraumatic stress , psychiatry , psychology , clinical psychology
Abstract Concurrent mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common in U.S. military service members and veterans. Tau and amyloid‐beta‐42 (Aβ42) are proteins that have been linked to cognitive impairment, neurological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, and may also relate to recovery from mTBI. However, the role of these proteins in the maintenance or resolution of chronic symptoms has not yet been determined. Participants in the current study were 102 service members and veterans who had sustained an mTBI ( n = 84) or injured controls (IC) without TBI ( n = 18). They were categorized into three groups based on the presence or absence of mTBI and PTSD: IC/PTSD‐Absent ( n = 18), mTBI/PTSD‐Absent ( n = 63), and mTBI/PTSD‐Present ( n = 21). Concentrations of tau and Aβ42 in peripheral blood plasma were measured using Simoa TM , an ultrasensitive technology, and compared across groups. Tau concentrations were highest in the mTBI/PTSD‐Present group, F (2, 99) = 4.33, p = .016, compared to the other two groups. Linear multiple regression was conducted to determine the independent effects of PTSD and mTBI on tau concentrations, controlling for gender and sleep medication. PTSD was a significant and independent predictor of tau concentrations, β = .25, p = .009, η p 2 = .26. Aβ42 concentrations did not differ between the groups. The results indicated that PTSD was associated with an elevation of tau in peripheral blood and suggest that there may be increased biological effects of PTSD in this young cohort of service members and veterans following mTBI.