Figure 5. Tau-Mediated Neurodegeneration in FTLD-Tau.

Tau misfolding and aggregation into to beta-pleated sheet containing oligomers and fibrils occurs in familial FTLD-Tau due to MAPT mutations and in FTLD-Tau. This process results in loss of microtubule binding function and formation of cytosolic tau inclusions (red). Animal- and cell-model data suggest neuron-to-neuron transmission is central to disease pathogenesis and propagation. This process leads to multiple areas of cell-dysfunction (boxes).