A combined neuroimaging and biofluid biomarker study investigated whether synaptic changes are associated with accelerated tau spreading in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Higher levels of the presynaptic protein GAP-43 speed up the spread of tau in AD. These findings by Nico Franzmeier (ISD) and others are relevant for developing treatments to slow down the progression of the disease.

Franzmeier N, Dehsarvi A, Steward A, Biel D, Dewenter A, Roemer SN, Wagner F, Groß M, Brendel M, Moscoso A, Arunachalam P, Blennow K, Zetterberg H, Ewers M, Schöll M. Elevated CSF GAP-43 is associated with accelerated tau accumulation and spread in Alzheimer's disease. Nat Commun. 2024 Jan 3;15(1):202. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-44374-w.