The concentration of a particular protein in CSF (CSF, cerebrospinal fluid), the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, is a reliable indicator of the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

A group of scientists from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has discovered that an insoluble fragment of the #tau protein is present in the cerebrospinal fluid of people affected by this form of dementia, one of the main responsible for the death of neurons in the ‘Alzheimer’s: the amount of this marker in CSF is directly proportional to the spread of tau tangles in the brain.

When the levels of the protein in the CSF were compared with the patients’ brain PET scans, it was found that they were closely linked to the amount of tau tangles in the brain: the technique is able to accurately measure the accumulation and therefore also the damage done. to patients’ neurons.

In addition to improving diagnosis, the procedure could unveil new avenues of research in a sector that is in dire need.
MTBR tau has also been identified among neurons, and it is now questioning whether it plays a role in promoting the transport of tau from one part of the brain to the other affected by the disease.