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Tau Suppression in a Neurodegenerative Mouse Model Improves Memory Function
Karen Sterling SantaCruz, Jada M. Lewis, Tara L. Spires‐Jones, Jennifer B. Paulson, Linda Kotilinek, Martin Ingelsson, Aaron Guimaraes, Michael A. Deture, M. Ramsden, Eileen M. McGowan, Colleen L. Forster, Mei Yue, Jennifer D. Orne, Christopher Janus, Ami Mariash, Michael A. Kuskowski, Bradley T. Hyman, Melanie L. Hutton, Karen H. Ashe. Science, 2005-07-14
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are the most common intraneuronal inclusion in the brains of patients with neurodegenerative diseases and have been implicated in mediating neuronal death and cognitive deficits. Here, we found that mice expressing a repressible human tau variant developed progressive age-related NFTs, neuronal loss, and behavioral impairments. After the suppression of transgenic tau, memory function recovered, and neuron numbers stabilized, but to our surprise, NFTs continued to accumulate. Thus, NFTs are not sufficient to cause cognitive decline or neuronal death in this model of tauopathy.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
SantaCruz, K. S., Lewis, J. M., Spires‐Jones, T. L., Paulson, J. B., Kotilinek, L., Ingelsson, M., et al. (2005). Tau Suppression in a Neurodegenerative Mouse Model Improves Memory Function. Science. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1113694
Vancouver
SantaCruz KS, Lewis JM, Spires‐Jones TL, Paulson JB, Kotilinek L, Ingelsson M, et al. Tau Suppression in a Neurodegenerative Mouse Model Improves Memory Function. Science. 2005. doi:10.1126/science.1113694. PMID: 16020737.
BibTeX
@article{santacruz2005-16020737,
author = {SantaCruz, Karen Sterling and Lewis, Jada M. and Spires‐Jones, Tara L. and Paulson, Jennifer B. and Kotilinek, Linda and Ingelsson, Martin and Guimaraes, Aaron and Deture, Michael A. and Ramsden, M. and McGowan, Eileen M. and Forster, Colleen L. and Yue, Mei and Orne, Jennifer D. and Janus, Christopher and Mariash, Ami and Kuskowski, Michael A. and Hyman, Bradley T. and Hutton, Melanie L. and Ashe, Karen H.},
title = {{Tau Suppression in a Neurodegenerative Mouse Model Improves Memory Function}},
journal = {Science},
year = {2005},
doi = {10.1126/science.1113694},
pmid = {16020737},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1113694}
}
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 names 19 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Why it matters
Mice making a human tau variant that could be switched off developed tangles, nerve cell loss and behavioural problems. After the tau was switched off, memory recovered and nerve cell numbers stabilised even though tangles kept building up, so tangles were not sufficient to cause memory decline or nerve cell death in this model.
How this study scored 59/100
Published in a top-tier journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on strength of evidence, so that was left out: it earned 56 of the 95 points we could judge it on, which is 59 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 10 / 10 | Tier 1 — top-tier general journal (Science) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Science: journal h-index 1,754 (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 | — / 5 | No evidence rating recorded — left out of this score |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2005 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| 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 | Laboratory or animal study (title names “mouse”) — scores zero |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 7 / 7 | Cited 2,019 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 5 / 5 | 87.8 citations a year over 23 year(s) since 2005 |
| Impact for its field and year | 6 / 6 | Cited 47.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 4 / 4 | Cited 209 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Karen H. Ashe: h-index 51 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Minnesota: institution h-index 1,568 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 16020737) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 56 / 95 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 56 of the 95 points we could judge it on is 59 out of 100. |
| Total | 59 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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