Study Links Alzheimer’s-Related Tau Protein to Long-Term Memory Formation

Canberra, May 25 – Australian scientists have identified a key role of tau protein, a protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease, in the formation of long-term memory, offering new insights that could support future dementia treatment research.

According to a study by Flinders University, published in Nature Communications, tau protein plays an important role in organizing and stabilizing long-term memories. The study found that while tau is not essential for initial learning or short-term recall, it is critical for helping memories become stronger and longer lasting.

In experiments conducted on mice, researchers found that tau helps organize engram cells, specialized neurons that form the physical traces of memories in the brain. During a key stage of memory encoding, tau helps determine which cells are selected to store memories. It also helps prevent excessive brain activity or “noise,” ensuring that only specific neurons are recruited into the memory network. This process helps make memories clearer and more stable.

The research also highlighted the importance of a subtle chemical modification of tau known as phosphorylation. While abnormal tau phosphorylation is a major feature of Alzheimer’s disease, the study suggests that low and well-regulated levels of phosphorylation are necessary for normal brain function.

Researchers said disease-related forms of tau may disrupt both the formation of new memories and the retrieval of existing ones. The findings suggest that memory loss linked to dementia may result not only from problems with memory storage, but also from impaired organization and recall of memories.

Source : Xinhua Thai News