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Tau Isoform Profile in Essential Tremor Diverges From Other Tauopathies
Kim SH, Farrell K, Cosentino S, Vonsattel JG, Faust PL, Cortes EP, Bennet DA, Louis ED et al.. Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology, 2021-09-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Patients with essential tremor (ET) frequently develop concurrent dementia, which is often assumed to represent co-morbid Alzheimer disease (AD). Autopsy studies have identified a spectrum of tau pathologies in ET and tau isoforms have not been examined in ET. We performed immunoblotting using autopsy cerebral cortical tissue from patients with ET (n = 13), progressive supranuclear palsy ([PSP], n = 10), Pick disease ([PiD], n = 2), and AD (n = 7).
Key findings
- Autopsy studies have identified a spectrum of tau pathologies in ET and tau isoforms have not been examined in ET.
- We performed immunoblotting using autopsy cerebral cortical tissue from patients with ET (n = 13), progressive supranuclear palsy ([PSP], n = 10), Pick disease ([PiD], n = 2), and AD (n = 7).
- Total tau in ET samples was similar to that in PSP and PiD but was significantly lower than that in AD.
- Abnormal tau levels measured using the AT8 phospho-tau specific (S202/T205/S208) monoclonal antibody in ET were similar to those in PSP but were lower than in PiD and AD.
Why it matters
This study examined brain tissue after death and found that the pattern of tau protein in people with essential tremor was different from the pattern in people with Alzheimer's disease. This suggests that dementia in essential tremor may not simply be co-occurring Alzheimer's disease, but the finding does not directly lead to a treatment or cure.
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Study details
- Participants13
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 43/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology: journal h-index 239 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2021 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 13 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 14 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.0 citations a year over 7 year(s) since 2021 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 4 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author John F. Crary: h-index 51 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Columbia University: institution h-index 1,824 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 6 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 34363663) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 43 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlab073
- PubMed: 34363663
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Kim, S. H., Farrell, K., Cosentino, S., Vonsattel, J. G., Faust, P. L., Cortes, E. P., et al. (2021). Tau Isoform Profile in Essential Tremor Diverges From Other Tauopathies. Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnen/nlab073
Vancouver
Kim SH, Farrell K, Cosentino S, Vonsattel JG, Faust PL, Cortes EP, et al. Tau Isoform Profile in Essential Tremor Diverges From Other Tauopathies. Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology. 2021. doi:10.1093/jnen/nlab073. PMID: 34363663.
BibTeX
@article{kim2021-34363663,
author = {Kim, S. H. and Farrell, K. and Cosentino, S. and Vonsattel, J. G. and Faust, P. L. and Cortes, E. P. and Bennet, D. A. and Louis, E. D. and others},
title = {{Tau Isoform Profile in Essential Tremor Diverges From Other Tauopathies}},
journal = {Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology},
year = {2021},
doi = {10.1093/jnen/nlab073},
pmid = {34363663},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/jnen/nlab073}
}
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