Tau phosphorylation is a common pathway across Alzheimer's disease, FTLD-tau and even FTLD-non-tau (FTLD-TDP). (IMAGE)

Tokyo Medical and Dental University

Tau phosphorylation is a common pathway across Alzheimer's disease, FTLD-tau and even FTLD-non-tau (FTLD-TDP).

Caption

Specific pathways of Alzheimer's disease and FTLD-non-tau (FTLD-TDP linked to PGRN mutations) merge at tau phosphorylation. The mislocalization of phosphorylated tau to dendritic spines degenerates postsynaptic spines and leads to loss of synapse function. The degeneration does not need the intracellular tau aggregation or extracellular amyloid aggregation (senile plaque). Hence the common pathology mediated by tau phosphorylation could initiate at the earliest stage of these degenerative diseases.

Credit

Department of Neuropathology, TMDU

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