Tauopathy

Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases involving the aggregation of abnormal tau protein (also called tubulin associated unit, or microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT)). Tangles are formed by hyperphosphorylation of the microtubule protein known as tau, causing the protein to dissociate from microtubules and form insoluble aggregate . Various neuropathologic phenotypes are identified based on the specific engagement of anatomical regions, cell types, and the presence of unique isoforms of tau within pathological deposits. The designation 'primary tauopathy' is assigned to disorders where the predominant feature is the deposition of tau protein. Alternatively, diseases exhibiting tau pathologies attributed to different and varied underlying causes are termed 'secondary tauopathies. Some neuropathologic phenotypes involving tau protein is Alzheimer’s disease, Pick disease, Progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration.