It takes tau to tangle

Abstract

Neurodegeneration In Alzheimer's disease and in other neurodegenerative diseases known as tauopathies, misfolded tau protein forms filamentous aggregates, known as tangles, in the brain. These tangles have often been considered end-stage features that will remain indefinitely within the brain once formed. Croft et al. studied the formation and potential clearance dynamics of tau inclusions in brain slices from tauopathy model mice. Initially, inclusions formed relatively rapidly, within a day or two, and turned over with a half-time of about a week. This turnover slowed down as the slices aged in culture. After 2 months in culture, deposited tau took ∼3 weeks to turn over and its half-life had tripled. Thus, although they can be long-lived, tau inclusions may not necessarily be permanent. Acta Neuropathol. 141 , 359 (2021).