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Tau pathology and neurodegeneration
Spillantini MG, Goedert M.. The Lancet. Neurology, 2013-06-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
The pathway leading from soluble and monomeric to hyperphosphorylated, insoluble and filamentous tau protein is at the centre of many human neurodegenerative diseases, collectively referred to as tauopathies. Dominantly inherited mutations in MAPT, the gene that encodes tau, cause forms of frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism, proving that dysfunction of tau is sufficient to cause neurodegeneration and dementia. However, most cases of tauopathy are not inherited in a dominant manner. The first tau aggregates form in a few nerve cells in discrete brain areas. These become self propagating and spread to distant brain regions in a prion-like manner. The prevention of tau aggregation and propagation is the focus of attempts to develop mechanism-based treatments for tauopathies.
Key findings
- Dominantly inherited mutations in MAPT, the gene that encodes tau, cause forms of frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism, proving that dysfunction of tau is sufficient to cause neurodegeneration and dementia.
- However, most cases of tauopathy are not inherited in a dominant manner.
- The first tau aggregates form in a few nerve cells in discrete brain areas.
- These become self propagating and spread to distant brain regions in a prion-like manner.
- The prevention of tau aggregation and propagation is the focus of attempts to develop mechanism-based treatments for tauopathies.
Why it matters
This review states that inherited MAPT mutations cause forms of frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism, showing tau dysfunction is sufficient to cause neurodegeneration, and that tau aggregates may spread in a prion-like manner. It notes that preventing tau aggregation and propagation is the focus of attempts to develop mechanism-based treatments, but reports no treatment, cure or prevention.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 59/100
Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (The Lancet. Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | The Lancet Neurology: journal h-index 457 (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 | 1 / 5 | 2013 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 7 / 7 | Cited 1,139 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 5 / 5 | 75.9 citations a year over 15 year(s) since 2013 |
| Impact for its field and year | 6 / 6 | Cited 50.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 4 / 6 | Cited by 31 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 4 / 4 | Cited 216 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Michel Goedert: h-index 147 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Cambridge: institution h-index 1,973 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 23684085) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 59 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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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. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Spillantini, M. G., & Goedert, M. (2013). Tau pathology and neurodegeneration. The Lancet. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1474-4422(13)70090-5
Vancouver
Spillantini MG, Goedert M. Tau pathology and neurodegeneration. The Lancet. Neurology. 2013. doi:10.1016/s1474-4422(13)70090-5. PMID: 23684085.
BibTeX
@article{spillantini2013-23684085,
author = {Spillantini, M. G. and Goedert, M.},
title = {{Tau pathology and neurodegeneration}},
journal = {The Lancet. Neurology},
year = {2013},
doi = {10.1016/s1474-4422(13)70090-5},
pmid = {23684085},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/s1474-4422(13)70090-5}
}
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