Editors' note: Pathologic Thr 175 tau phosphorylation in CTE and CTE with ALS

Abstract

In “Pathologic Thr175 tau phosphorylation in CTE and CTE with ALS,” the authors looked at the presence of pathologic tau (Thr175) in the CNS of patients with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) with and without amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Drs. Glass et al. disagree that Thr175 tau is found only in the CNS of patients with CTE-ALS as they find pathologic tau in patients with sporadic ALS as well. They also argue that the study was not designed to look at the relationship between ALS and CTE and that the authors' conclusion that CTE is related to the pathogenesis of ALS is not substantiated. Author Strong responds that the correspondents' experience of seeing pathologic tau in the CNS of patients with sporadic ALS is contrary to current views in the field and encourages them to publish their findings. He also explains that while the study population of CTE cases limited the scope of their conclusions, the incidence of ALS in this group was still greater than predicted and further research is necessary. In “Pathologic Thr175 tau phosphorylation in CTE and CTE with ALS,” the authors looked at the presence of pathologic tau (Thr175) in the CNS of patients with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) with and without amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Drs. Glass et al. disagree that Thr175 tau is found only in the CNS of patients with CTE-ALS as they find pathologic tau in patients with sporadic ALS as well.