tauopathy

Tauopathy refers to a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the abnormal accumulation of tau protein in the brain. Tau is a protein that helps stabilize nerve cell structures called microtubules. In tauopathies, tau proteins become misfolded and clump together into tangles, disrupting normal cell function. This buildup leads to nerve cell damage and death, contributing to cognitive decline and other neurological symptoms. Conditions like Alzheimer's disease and certain frontotemporal dementias are examples of tauopathies. Understanding tauopathy is important for developing targeted therapies to slow or halt disease progression.