The physiological process of clearing the brain of pathological, hyperphosphorylated tau protein, which aggregates intracellularly to form neurofibrillary tangles. This removal is a critical mechanism for maintaining neuronal structural integrity and function.
Origin
This term is central to the study of tauopathies, a class of neurodegenerative diseases, where tau is the primary pathological protein. “Removal” refers to the intrinsic cellular and extracellular mechanisms for protein degradation and clearance.
Mechanism
Clearance is primarily mediated by the cell’s internal quality control systems, including the ubiquitin-proteasome system and macroautophagy, which degrade abnormal proteins. Extracellular tau can also be cleared by the glymphatic system, especially during deep sleep. The efficiency of these degradation pathways is highly sensitive to hormonal and metabolic status, linking endocrine health directly to neuroprotection.
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