Tau proteins normally help to form and maintain microtubules (above). In Alzheimer's disease, tau becomes overloaded with phosphate and clumps together into paired helical filaments (below), which are the basis of the tangles which choke dying neurons.
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Alzheimer's disease is named after the German physician Alois Alzheimer, who... -
Cross-section of the human brain showing the regions affected in Alzheimer's... -
AD is characterised by progressive cognitive decline and accompanying... -
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Tau proteins normally help to form and maintain microtubules (above). In...
