Articles tagged with Tau Proteins
Researchers developed a multiprotein approach to predict advanced tau pathology among amyloid-positive individuals, outperforming p-tau217 alone. This study suggests a scalable alternative to tau PET staging for clinical or research settings.
A new study by Sanford Burnham Prebys found that bolstering the SORLA protein can reduce tau tangle toxicity, a common culprit in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. This suggests potential as a therapeutic strategy for treating these conditions.
A new study from UT Health San Antonio found a link between long sleep hours and higher levels of an Alzheimer's-related protein in the blood. The research suggests that long sleep may reflect early neurodegenerative processes, but more sleep is not always better for brain health.
The University of California, San Francisco is launching a novel clinical trial to test a combination of therapies for the most common form of Alzheimer's disease. The trial will enroll up to 825 participants and test drugs that target both amyloid and tau proteins, with the goal of slowing disease progression.
A study identified a brain pattern related to the tau protein that changes according to the stage of Huntington’s disease. The discovery opens doors to new biomarkers and treatments for this rare, hereditary neurodegenerative disease.
Researchers discovered that a brain protein called Arc helps spread toxic Tau from sick brain cells to healthy ones in mice. This finding suggests that targeting the spread of Tau could be a powerful tool to stop Alzheimer's disease progression. The study also highlights the potential protective role of Arc in early stages of the disease.
A new brain imaging test can detect Alzheimer's disease pathology in twice as many people before symptoms appear. The test uses a new tau PET tracer that identifies more tau-positive cases than the current standard, leading to better decisions about who is on an Alzheimer's trajectory.
Researchers found biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease that correlated with minor cognitive differences in midlife adults. These biomarkers, measuring tau and amyloid plaque, were associated with a greater chance of cognitive decline, particularly in processing speed and executive function.
A study from the University of Eastern Finland reveals that lithium chloride may affect various cellular level changes in Alzheimer's disease, including Tau phosphorylation and Rho GTPase signaling. The researchers identified new AD-relevant phosphosites affected by lithium chloride treatment.
Researchers at Mass General Brigham developed an ultrasensitive test to detect abnormal clumps of TDP-43 protein in cerebrospinal fluid, a biomarker for specific form of dementia called FTLD-TDP. The test shows promise in diagnosing patients with the correct pathology and tracking disease progression.
Researchers found three distinct trajectories of cognitive decline: stable, slow and fast decline. Biomarker data showed that participants who declined faster had higher P-tau217 levels and smaller hippocampi.
A new study by POSTECH researchers found that the protein tau interacts with DNA during cell division, forming condensates that capture microtubules. This interaction affects chromosome alignment and can lead to cellular abnormalities even in healthy cells.
The NIH has renewed support for the USC-led AI4AD initiative, expanding its efforts to better classify Alzheimer's and related diseases, predict progression, and identify new treatment targets. The $12.6 million award will develop AI tools to uncover biological causes of Alzheimer's and improve disease diagnosis.
Researchers at USC identified differences in early Alzheimer's disease-related brain changes across racial and ethnic groups, with Black and Hispanic participants showing higher levels of tau in key memory-related regions. The study highlights the need for more inclusive approaches to studying and diagnosing Alzheimer's disease.
A new study reveals that tanycytes, specialized brain cells, play a key role in clearing the toxic tau protein associated with Alzheimer's disease. The findings suggest that maintaining tanycyte health could be a way to slow disease progression.
Researchers found that noninvasive measures of brain blood flow and oxygenation are associated with hallmark brain changes in older adults with and without cognitive impairment. Higher values on these indicators were linked to lower levels of amyloid plaques and larger hippocampal volume, indicating a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease.
A UT Health San Antonio researcher will study how microglia contribute to the spread of toxic tau protein in Alzheimer's disease. The study aims to clarify whether microglia act as barriers or accelerators in the cascade of the disease, potentially leading to new treatments.
A new study uses advanced MRI to accurately diagnose progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal degeneration (CBD), two underdiagnosed conditions. This breakthrough enables precise clinical trials and transforms treatment options for patients with balance problems, falls, stiffness, or difficulties with speech and movement.
Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital have developed a novel mass spectrometry tool called FLEXITau to analyze brain tissue from 203 patients with various tauopathies. The study identified 145 post-translational modifications and 195 cleavage sites across tau, providing a precise molecular roadmap for diagnostics and drug development.
A study published in Cell identified a protein complex called CRL5SOCS4 that marks tau for degradation, suggesting strengthening this natural defense mechanism could represent a new therapeutic strategy. Higher expression of CRL5SOCS4 components made neurons more likely to survive despite the accumulation of tau protein.
Researchers at UC San Francisco have identified CUL5, a protein that tags tau for elimination, as a key player in preventing the formation of toxic tau protein clumps that can lead to dementia. The study found that neurons with more CUL5 are less vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers found that OTULIN, an enzyme regulating the immune system, drives tau formation and brain inflammation. Deactivating OTULIN halted tau production and removed it from neurons.
A new study from Mass General Brigham researchers found that hyperphosphorylated tau may help protect the brain from infection, potentially leading to Alzheimer's disease. The study suggests that tau could serve as an antiviral protein against certain viruses.
A comprehensive review reveals tau protein plays essential roles in brain functions while driving neurodegeneration and psychopathology. Tau deficiency enhances insulin secretion, normalizing glucose levels in diabetic mouse models.
Researchers discovered that brain enzyme OTULIN regulates tau protein accumulation and has implications for treating neurodegenerative diseases. The study revealed OTULIN's role in controlling gene expression and RNA metabolism, suggesting a potential therapeutic target.
A team from Tokyo Metropolitan University has identified a crucial precursor structure in the formation of tau protein fibrils, mirroring the crystallization of polymers. Dissolving these clusters prevents fibril formation, suggesting a new paradigm for treating neurodegenerative diseases.
A new study reveals that increasing NAD⁺ levels corrects RNA splicing mistakes, improving brain function and restoring memory in animal models of Alzheimer's disease. The researchers discovered a previously unidentified pathway involving the protein EVA1C, which plays a crucial role in correcting tau-related neuronal damage.
A new study published in Nature Medicine found that increasing daily steps by even a little can help slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Cognitive decline was delayed by three years for people who walked 3,000-5,000 steps per day, and by seven years for those who walked 5,000-7,500 steps per day.
Researchers found that individuals from African American, Hispanic and Asian groups were less likely to have elevated amyloid in the brain based on blood levels of p-tau217. This finding suggests that these groups may have a lower prevalence of amyloid and are not at sufficient risk to qualify for amyloid-lowering trials.
Researchers at UCSF screened hundreds of industrial dyes to identify those that stick to protein clumps in the brain, a hallmark of dementia. They found 10 sure hits that illuminated tau clumps in animal models and human samples, offering new hope for diagnosis and treatment.
The Fork It Fund has awarded $1 million to support a major initiative at Stevens INI, accelerating scientific discovery by making critical research data more accessible worldwide. GAAIN is a global data-sharing platform connecting Alzheimer's disease and dementia-related data repositories from around the world.
Researchers at the University of New Mexico are launching a Phase 1a/1b clinical trial for a new vaccine engineered to clear pathological tau protein from the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s dementia. The trial aims to assess the safety and immunogenicity of the novel vaccine.
A new study reveals that Alzheimer's risk genes influence tau buildup and spread in distinct pathways, challenging traditional views of the disease. Four gene types were identified: Network-Aligned Vulnerability and Resilience, and Network-Independent Vulnerability and Resilience.
A new brain imaging benchmark may improve how researchers classify biologically meaningful changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers found a tau cut-point that distinguished individuals with cognitive impairment from those aging normally, but its effectiveness was limited in non-Hispanic Black participants.
A study by researchers at the University of Gothenburg found that newborn babies and patients with Alzheimer's disease share elevated levels of phosphorylated tau, specifically p-tau217. In newborns, this protein reflects a healthy mechanism for brain development, while in Alzheimer's patients, it indicates disease progression.
Research found that approximately 50% of participants with late-life depression and bipolar disorder showed tau accumulation in their brains, compared to only about 15% of healthy controls. The study suggests that neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, can initially manifest as psychiatric symptoms.
Researchers at UCLA Health identified a candidate small molecule, DDL-357, that increases concentrations of secreted clusterin, reducing toxic protein phospho-tau and improving mitochondrial function. The drug also improved memory in treated mice in maze-based cognitive tests.
Researchers from USC Keck School of Medicine have developed a low-cost blood test that detects five biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease, including amyloid and tau proteins. The test uses xMAP technology and has the potential to catch the disease in its earliest stages, when treatment might be able to prevent or delay cognitive decline.
A harmful form of tau protein directly damages blood vessels in the brain, leading to inflammation and weakening the brain's protective shield. The discovery highlights the importance of focusing on early neurovascular changes mediated by tau to prevent or slow down damage to the blood-brain barrier.
Researchers develop a simplified model of tau protein that forms disease-like fibrils, shedding light on the fundamental interactions underlying neurodegenerative diseases. The 'mini prion' can recreate the critical hallmarks of tauopathies, such as Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at UNM hope to launch human clinical trials for a vaccine targeting the tau protein associated with Alzheimer's dementia. The experimental vaccine generated a robust immune response in both mice and non-human primates, building on earlier research.
Researchers found that ATP regulates protein condensation and cytoplasm viscosity, preventing harmful protein aggregates. Boosting ATP production decreases viscosity, dispersing existing and preventing future protein aggregations.
A new study by UCL researchers found that people with visual Alzheimer's disease have a unique distribution of proteins and markers in their brain, leading to symptoms such as reading difficulties. In contrast, those with memory-led Alzheimer's disease have different protein patterns, resulting in symptoms like memory loss.
Researchers developed a blood test that accurately diagnoses Alzheimer's disease and measures its progression. The test correlates with the amount of tau aggregates in the brain, distinguishing between early- and late-stage diseases.
A research group at Peking University discovered dopamine's role in regulating Tau's function through a novel chemoproteomic strategy. This finding deepens our understanding of dopamine's physiological and pathological roles in the human brain.
A review article reveals CD2AP's crucial role in amyloid metabolism, tau pathology, synaptic function, and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease. CD2AP deficiency accelerates plaque formation, while its loss in neurons leads to reduced spine density and impaired synaptic plasticity.
A new stem cell therapy trial at UTHealth Houston aims to reduce neuroinflammation in patients with presymptomatic Alzheimer's disease. The study, which is sponsored by Weston Brain Institute, will enroll 12 patients and use PET imaging to determine whether stem cells reduce brain inflammation before symptoms develop.
A University of Minnesota research team has been awarded a $3.8 million grant to develop a new cell therapy targeting Alzheimer's disease. The project aims to adapt cancer treatment techniques to create specialized immune cells that can clear harmful proteins from the brain.
Researchers found that p-tau proteins in blood are elevated in both Alzheimer's and ALS patients, making them less specific for Alzheimer's diagnosis. However, they also show promise as potential biomarkers for early detection of ALS or monitoring disease progression.
A new brain-mapping technique identified memory-related brain cells vulnerable to protein buildup, a key factor in Alzheimer's disease. The study found that certain cell types in the hippocampus and cortex were more affected by tau buildup.
Researchers at USC Stem Cell discovered a gene called KCTD20 that suppresses glutamate toxicity, leading to enhanced tau protein clearance. This approach offers a promising therapeutic strategy for patients with tau-related neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease.
A research team at the University of Cologne has identified a specific form of the tau protein, 1N4R, responsible for mediating toxic effects of protein clumps in human brain cells. This breakthrough understanding could lead to new treatments for Alzheimer's disease.
A new blood test may help identify and monitor Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), according to a recent study published in Neurology. The test uses neurofilament light chain proteins to accurately diagnose ALS, with an accuracy rate of over 80%.
Researchers at the University of Florida have discovered a novel genetic mutation associated with an accumulation of toxic proteins in Alzheimer's brains. The study found that people carrying a specific variation of this repeated DNA strand have more than double the risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer's.
Researchers from the University of Gothenburg have made a breakthrough in understanding the role of protein tau in Alzheimer's disease. By identifying specific amino acid modifications that occur before thread-like fibrils form, scientists hope to develop complementary drugs to combat the disease.
Researchers developed a biomarker test that can detect small amounts of tau protein and its misfolded forms in cerebrospinal fluid, correlating with cognitive decline severity. The test identifies early stages of tau tangle formation up to a decade before brain scans, opening doors for early-stage disease diagnosis and intervention.
Researchers at Arizona State University propose a unifying explanation for Alzheimer’s disease, focusing on the role of chronic stress granules in disrupting gene activity. The condition causes massive changes in gene expression, affecting every known neuropathology and clinical manifestation.
Bess Frost, director of Brown University's Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research, received the 2025 Rainwater Prize for her groundbreaking findings on tau toxicity and retrotransposons. Her work may lead to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s and tauopathies.
This study used a senescence-accelerated prone strain 8 (SAMP8) male mice model to observe the protective effects of acupuncture on different brain regions in Alzheimer's disease. Acupuncture treatment improved learning and memory abilities, as well as depression-like behavior, by reducing apoptosis and decreasing tau protein deposition.
Researchers discovered a link between HSV-1 and Alzheimer's disease, suggesting that viral infections play a role in the disease. The study also found that tau protein initially protects the brain from the virus but contributes to brain damage later.