Protein Protects Against Tau Tangles, Synaptic Loss in Mouse Model of Tauopathy
Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys have identified that the protein SORLA helps protect the brain against tau tangles, which are associated with Alzheimer's disease. This discovery suggests that boosting SORLA levels could be a viable therapeutic strategy for treating neurodegenerative conditions.
Why it matters
This research offers a potential new pathway for developing treatments for Alzheimer's and other tauopathies, which currently lack effective cures.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and many other forms of neurodegeneration share a common culprit. In these diseases, tau proteins that normally stabilize neuronal microtubule filaments within nervous system networks instead form noxious knots and gradually disrupt the circuits they would otherwise preserve.
Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys have now shown that a different protein known as SORLA offers protection against the effects of these lethal loops. The results of the researcher’s’ study in mice suggests that future research may yield new treatments capable of boosting this protein’s ability to defend the brain.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in