What is the Origin of Tau Protein Aggregation?

The term combines 'tau,' a microtubule-associated protein, with 'aggregation,' meaning the formation of a mass or cluster. This concept became central to neuroscience following the definitive identification of tau protein as the primary component of neurofibrillary tangles in the late 20th century. Its study is critical to understanding the underlying mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease progression.

What is the Mechanism of Tau Protein Aggregation?

Hormonal factors, particularly the age-related decline of neuroprotective hormones like estrogen and testosterone, can significantly exacerbate this process by increasing oxidative stress and promoting kinase activity that hyperphosphorylates tau. The aggregated tau proteins lose their ability to stabilize microtubules, which are essential for cellular structure and the transport of nutrients and organelles. This structural collapse initiates a cascade of neurotoxicity, leading directly to cognitive impairment.

Tau Protein Aggregation

Meaning

Tau Protein Aggregation is a pathological process characterized by the abnormal hyperphosphorylation of the tau protein, causing it to detach from microtubules and accumulate into insoluble clumps called neurofibrillary tangles within brain cells. This aggregation severely disrupts the structural integrity of neurons and impairs axonal transport, ultimately leading to synaptic dysfunction and progressive neuronal death. It is recognized as a primary neuropathological hallmark in Alzheimer’s disease and other related tauopathies.