Synaptic tau: A pathological or physiological phenomenon?
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Publication Date
2021-09-09Journal Title
Acta Neuropathologica Communications
ISSN
2051-5960
Publisher
BioMed Central
Volume
9
Issue
1
Pages
149-149
Language
eng
Type
Article
This Version
VoR
Metadata
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Robbins, M., Clayton, E., & Kaminski, G. (2021). Synaptic tau: A pathological or physiological phenomenon?. Acta Neuropathologica Communications, 9 (1), 149-149. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40478-021-01246-y
Abstract
In this review, we discuss the synaptic aspects of Tau pathology occurring during Alzheimer's disease (AD) and how this may relate to memory impairment, a major hallmark of AD. Whilst the clinical diagnosis of AD patients is a loss of working memory and long-term declarative memory, the histological diagnosis is the presence of neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated Tau and Amyloid-beta plaques. Tau pathology spreads through synaptically connected neurons to impair synaptic function preceding the formation of neurofibrillary tangles, synaptic loss, axonal retraction and cell death. Alongside synaptic pathology, recent data suggest that Tau has physiological roles in the pre- or post- synaptic compartments. Thus, we have seen a shift in the research focus from Tau as a microtubule-stabilising protein in axons, to Tau as a synaptic protein with roles in accelerating spine formation, dendritic elongation, and in synaptic plasticity coordinating memory pathways. We collate here the myriad of emerging interactions and physiological roles of synaptic Tau, and discuss the current evidence that synaptic Tau contributes to pathology in AD.
Keywords
Alzheimer’s disease, Memory, Neurodegeneration, Plasticity, Synapses, Tau
Sponsorship
G.S.K.S. acknowledges funding from the Wellcome Trust (065807/Z/01/Z)
(203249/Z/16/Z), the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) (MR/K02292X/1),
Alzheimer Research UK (ARUK) (ARUK-PG013-14), Michael J Fox Foundation
(16238) and Infnitus China Ltd. M.A.R acknowledges funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/L015889/1).
Funder references
Medical Research Council (MR/K02292X/1)
Wellcome Trust (065807/Z/01/Z)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/L015889/1)
Wellcome Trust (203249/Z/16/Z)
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40478-021-01246-y
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/330380
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