Researchers At The University Of Virginia Have Made A Breakthrough Discovery In Understanding The Harmful Effects Of Tau Proteins In Alzheimer’s Disease. Their Findings, Published In The Journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, Reveal How Toxic Tau Proteins Distort The Shape Of Neuronal Nuclei, Leading To Significant Damage To Brain Cells. This Discovery Has The Potential To Pave The Way For The Development Of New Treatments For Alzheimer’s And Other Neurodegenerative Tauopathies.
Tau Proteins Have Long Been Implicated In The Development And Progression Of Alzheimer’s Disease. However, This Study Is One Of The First To Identify The Physical Harm Caused By Tau Proteins To Neurons. The Research Team, Led By George Bloom And Doctoral Student Xuehan Sun, Found That Toxic Tau Proteins Alter The Function Of Genes Contained Within Neuronal Nuclei, Reprogramming The Cells To Produce More Tau.
The Team’s Findings Shed Light On How Toxic Tau Spreads From Neuron To Neuron In The Brain And The Subsequent Damage Inflicted On Neurons. Previous Research Has Focused On Understanding The Mechanisms Of Tau Propagation But Lacked Knowledge About The Specific Harm Caused By Tau Proteins. Bloom Explains That Intercepting The Release Of Toxic Tau Proteins Outside Of Neurons Could Potentially Slow Or Halt The Progression Of Alzheimer’s And Other Tauopathies, Offering New Opportunities For Treatment.
Tauopathies Are Characterized By The Accumulation Of Tau Proteins In The Brain And Encompass Various Disorders, Including Alzheimer’s Disease, Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, And Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. These Diseases Typically Manifest As Dementia, Personality Changes, And/Or Movement Problems. Currently, There Are No Available Treatments For Non-Alzheimer’s Tauopathies.
In Their Study, Bloom And His Team Discovered That Tau Oligomers, Which Are Aggregations Of Multiple Tau Proteins, Dramatically Alter The Shape Of Neuronal Nuclei. This Structural Distortion Disrupts The Genetic Material Contained Within The Nuclei, Resulting In Changes In Gene Expression. Notably, The Gene Responsible For Tau Production Saw A Threefold Increase In Expression. This Suggests That The Presence Of Toxic Tau Proteins Can Perpetuate The Production Of More Harmful Tau, Akin To A Snowball Effect.
The Researchers Observed That Patients With Alzheimer’s Disease Had Twice As Many Nuclei With Structural Invaginations Compared To Individuals Without The Condition. Similar Increases Were Also Observed In Mouse Models Of Alzheimer’s Disease And Other Tauopathies.
Further Research Into The Underlying Mechanisms Of This Process Could Unveil Novel Preventive And Therapeutic Strategies For Alzheimer’s And Other Tauopathies. Understanding How Toxic Tau Proteins Affect Neurons At A Cellular Level Opens Up New Possibilities For Intervention And Treatment. This Groundbreaking Discovery Brings Hope For The Development Of Targeted Therapies To Combat The Devastating Effects Of Alzheimer’s Disease And Other Tauopathies.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
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