Tau Protein News and Research

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Tau proteins are microtubule-associated proteins found in neurons in the brain.

Traumatic brain injury disrupts brain drainage and accelerates Alzheimer’s risk

University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers have uncovered how and why traumatic brain injury (TBI) increases the risk for Alzheimer's disease, and their work suggests a potential way to prevent that increased risk.

16 Dec 2025

Tau biology expands beyond microtubules to neurodegeneration, metabolism and mental illness

An Thought Leaders Invited Review published today in Genomic Psychiatry by Dr. Peng Lei and colleagues presents a sweeping synthesis of tau protein research that fundamentally reframes our understanding of this molecule's dual identity.

16 Dec 2025

New molecular ruler enables precise measurement of toxic Tau fibrils in fluid samples

Researchers have developed a new tool, FibrilPaint combined with the FibrilRuler test, that allows scientists to directly measure the length of toxic Tau amyloid fibrils in tiny fluid samples, from the earliest aggregation stages to mature fibrils and even at very low concentrations.

11 Dec 2025

Shingles vaccination is linked to fewer dementia diagnoses and deaths in older adults

A large quasi-experimental study in Wales shows that eligibility for shingles vaccination is linked to fewer new mild cognitive impairment diagnoses and lower dementia-related mortality. Benefits appear strongest in women and are observed at multiple stages of the dementia disease course.

7 Dec 2025

Changes in brain fats play a key role in Alzheimer's development and progression

More than a century ago, Alois Alzheimer noted unusual changes in brain fats, which he described as "lipoid granules," along with the buildup of amyloid-beta (amyloid) plaques and tau protein tangles.

20 Nov 2025

Polymer physics offers fresh perspectives on neurodegenerative diseases

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have applied ideas from polymer physics to illuminate the mechanism behind a key pathology in Alzheimer's disease, the formation of fibrils of tau proteins.

17 Nov 2025

Targeting RNA splicing errors protects against tau-induced neurodegeneration

Alzheimer's Disease (AD), the leading cause of dementia, affects nearly 40 million individuals globally, resulting in a gradual loss of memory and independence. Despite extensive research over the past decades, no treatments have been found that can halt or reverse the progression of this devastating disease.

11 Nov 2025

Newly identified microglia subtype offers protection against Alzheimer’s disease

In Alzheimer's disease, the leading cause of dementia, microglia-the brain's immune defenders-can act as both protectors and aggressors, shaping how the disease progresses.

5 Nov 2025

Football hits leave lasting brain changes

Recent MRI research reveals how repeated football head impacts reshape brain structures, offering insights into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) risk.

30 Oct 2025

Subtle brain changes in football players could predict the risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy

Brain scans from American football players reveal subtle differences in the brain's outer grooves when compared to scans from otherwise healthy men who never played contact or collision sports, a new study shows.

28 Oct 2025

Nasal spray of gold nanoparticles delivers lithium directly to the brain

In the form of a 'nasal spray', tiny gold particles act as carriers, delivering a treatment directly to the brain: developed by scientists at the Università Cattolica Rome campus/Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, a new nanotechnological device for the treatment and prevention of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases.

8 Oct 2025

Repetitive head impacts trigger early brain changes in young athletes

Research supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows that repeated head impacts from contact sports can cause early and lasting changes in the brains of young- to middle-aged athletes.

17 Sep 2025

Age influences amyloid positivity in Parkinson's disease without dementia

A new research paper was published in Volume 17, Issue 8 of Aging-US on August 6, 2025, titled "Age-related trends in amyloid positivity in Parkinson's disease without dementia."

16 Sep 2025

How processed red meat might drive neurodegenerative diseases

The relationship between processed red meat and neurodegenerative diseases is complex, with potential risks and protective effects requiring more investigation.

15 Sep 2025

Object recognition shapes spatial awareness in the brain

We take our understanding of where we are for granted, until we lose it. When we get lost in nature or a new city, our eyes and brains kick into gear, seeking familiar objects that tell us where we are.

11 Sep 2025

Special MRI technique predicts onset of mild cognitive impairment and cognitive decline

A special MRI technique that detects iron levels in different regions of the brain can predict the onset of mild cognitive impairment and cognitive decline in cognitively unimpaired older adults, potentially creating a pathway to earlier interventions, according to a study published today in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America.

9 Sep 2025

Study could pave the way for simple blood test to diagnose Alzheimer's disease

In a landmark study of Hispanic and Latino adults, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have identified a link between self-reported cognitive decline and blood-based biomarkers, which could pave the way for a simple blood test to help diagnose Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

8 Sep 2025

EEG ‘Fastball’ shows promise for spotting early memory loss in Alzheimer’s

This study introduces Fastball, an EEG method that accurately measures recognition memory in MCI, enhancing early dementia diagnosis and cognitive assessment.

8 Sep 2025

Alzheimer’s research reaches a critical tipping point

One-third of people older than 85 in the United States are estimated to live with Alzheimer's disease today, according to the National Institute on Aging.

8 Aug 2025

Synthetic torpor moves closer to real-world medical use

Nature is often the best model for science. For nearly a century, scientists have been trying to recreate the ability of some mammals and birds to survive extreme environmental conditions for brief or extended periods by going into torpor, when their body temperature and metabolic rate drop, allowing them to preserve energy and heat.

1 Aug 2025