tau pathology

Tau pathology involves abnormal changes in tau proteins, which are part of the structural support inside nerve cells in the brain. In healthy neurons, tau helps stabilize microtubules, essential for transporting nutrients and signals. In diseases like Alzheimer's, tau proteins become abnormally modified, causing them to stick together and form tangles inside neurons. These tau tangles disrupt normal cell function, leading to neuron damage and death. The accumulation of tau tangles is a hallmark of certain neurodegenerative conditions, contributing to cognitive decline and memory loss associated with these disorders.