Tauopathy
Updates to Article Attributes
Tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterised by mutations in the tau protein gene. This results in abnormal metabolism of thesetau proteins leading to intracellular accumulation and formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFT). These neurofibrillary tangles are deposited in the cytosol of neurons and glial cells.
Examples of tauopathies include3:
- Alzheimer disease
- progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)
- frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD)
- corticobasal degeneration
It should be noted, that although some texts 2 define tauopathies as disease characterised by mutations in the tau protein gene itself. If such a strict definition is used, even though the histopathological hallmark of Alzheimer disease also has is the presence of numerous neurofibrillary tangles, also (also formed by tau proteins,) as no defect in the tau protein gene has been identified. As such it iswould not usually classified asstrictly be a tauopathy.
More recently the discovery of the glymphatic pathway and the importance of this in the normal physiological clearance of extracellular solutes including beta-amyloid, suggests that there there is also the possibility of reduced clearance, in addition to abnormal metabolism, as the underpinning of some tauopathies including chronic traumatic encephalopathy24.
-<p><strong>Tauopathies</strong> are a group of <a href="/articles/neurodegenerative-disease">neurodegenerative diseases</a> characterised by mutations in the tau protein gene. This results in abnormal metabolism of these proteins leading to intracellular accumulation and formation of <a href="/articles/neurofibrillary-tangles">neurofibrillary tangles (NFT)</a>. These neurofibrillary tangles are deposited in the cytosol of neurons and glial cells. </p><p>Examples of tauopathies include:</p><ul>- +<p><strong>Tauopathies</strong> are a group of <a href="/articles/neurodegenerative-disease">neurodegenerative diseases</a> abnormal metabolism of tau proteins leading to intracellular accumulation and formation of <a href="/articles/neurofibrillary-tangles">neurofibrillary tangles (NFT)</a>. These neurofibrillary tangles are deposited in the cytosol of neurons and glial cells. </p><p>Examples of tauopathies include <sup>3</sup>:</p><ul>
- +<li><a href="/articles/alzheimer-disease-1">Alzheimer disease</a></li>
-</ul><p>It should be noted, that although <a href="/articles/alzheimer-s-disease">Alzheimer disease</a> also has numerous neurofibrillary tangles, also formed by tau proteins, no defect in the tau protein gene has been identified. As such it is not usually classified as a tauopathy <sup>2</sup>. </p>- +</ul><p>It should be noted that some texts <sup>2</sup> define tauopathies as disease characterised by mutations in the tau protein gene itself. If such a strict definition is used, even though the histopathological hallmark of <a href="/articles/alzheimer-disease-1">Alzheimer disease</a> is the presence of numerous neurofibrillary tangles (also formed by tau proteins) as no defect in the tau protein gene has been identified it would not strictly be a tauopathy. </p><p>More recently the discovery of the <a href="/articles/glymphatic-pathway">glymphatic pathway</a> and the importance of this in the normal physiological clearance of extracellular solutes including beta-amyloid, suggests that there there is also the possibility of reduced clearance, in addition to abnormal metabolism, as the underpinning of some tauopathies including <a href="/articles/chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy">chronic traumatic encephalopathy</a> <sup>4</sup>. </p>
References changed:
- 3. Williams DR. Tauopathies: classification and clinical update on neurodegenerative diseases associated with microtubule-associated protein tau. Intern Med J. 2006;36 (10): 652-60. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1445-5994.2006.01153.x">doi:10.1111/j.1445-5994.2006.01153.x</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16958643">Pubmed citation</a><span class="auto"></span>
- 4. Koliatsos VE and Xu L. The Problem of Neurodegeneration in Cumulative Sports Concussions: Emphasis on Neurofibrillary Tangle Formation. Brain Neurotrauma: Molecular, Neuropsychological, and Rehabilitation Aspects. <a=href"http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26269885">Read it free</a>
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