Longitudinal tau burden partially mediates synergistic influence of vascular risk and amyloid‐beta on cognitive decline in clinically normal older adults

Vascular risk is increasingly recognized as an important contributor to late‐life cognitive impairment. Elevated vascular risk and amyloid‐beta (Aβ) burden have been synergistically associated with greater cognitive decline, however the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We examined the combined effects of baseline vascular risk and Aβ on longitudinal tau burden. We further investigated the extent to which tau accumulation mediates the synergistic effects of increased vascular risk and Aβ on prospective cognitive decline.