Australian scientists reveal protein's role in Alzheimer's

Adelaide (ANTARA) - Research published in Nature Communications has revealed that tau protein plays a crucial role in regulating and stabilising memories to ensure long-term retention. Tau protein is not required for initial learning or short-term memory, according to a statement released by Flinders University on Monday (25 May). Without tau protein, memories can still form but become weaker and do not last long, said Arne Ittner from Flinders University, the senior author of the study and a neuroscientist. Using mouse models, researchers demonstrated that tau protein helps regulate ‘engram cells’ — specialised neurons that form the physical trace of memories — during the critical encoding phase, aiding in selecting which cells store a particular memory. The study also found that tau helps prevent excessive brain activity or ‘noise’, ensuring only specific cells are recruited to store memories, resulting in clearer and more stable recollections. A subtle chemical modification of tau, known as phosphorylation, was identified as the primary mechanism coordinating engram cell activity. Although abnormal tau phosphorylation is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, the research shows that controlled, low-level phosphorylation is vital for normal brain function. Researchers stated that the disease-associated form of tau hinders both the formation of new memories and the recall process, indicating that dementia-related memory loss stems from disrupted organisation and retrieval of memories, rather than solely from memory storage issues.