Tau-associated Gene Increases Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease

In a study recently published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, an international team of scientists led by researchers from the University of California identified the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) gene as a link to increasing a person’s risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. The MAPT gene encodes the tau protein, which is involved with a number of neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. During the study, rather than looking at all possible specific gene locations, the researchers only focused on those associated with Parkinson’s disease and assessed whether they were also associated with Alzheimer’s disease, increasing their statistical power for gene discovery. By using this approach, they found that carriers of the MAPT allele (an alternative form of the gene) are at increased risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease and more likely to experience increased brain atrophy compared to non-carriers. “This study demonstrates that tau deposits in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease subjects are not just a consequence of the disease, but actually contribute to development and progression of the disease,” said one of the study’s co-authors. To read more about this study, click here.