microtubule-associated protein tau in CSF

Physiology

• CSF tau levels are higher during wakefulness than sleep
• brain-derived microtubule-associated protein tau differs from peripherally-derived tau that contains an exon 4a insert between exons 4 & 5*

* see brain-derived microtubule-associated protein tau in serum/plasma

Indications

• may be useful for evaluation of tauopathy
  • may be useful for detecting Alzheimer's-related neurodegeneration & differentiating Alzheimer's disease from other neurodegenerative diseases

Clinical significance

• CSF tau increases 10 years before onset of dementia

More general terms

• microtubule-associated protein tau in body fluid

More specific terms

• phosphorylated tau in CSF

Additional terms

• cerebrospinal fluid
• microtubule-associated protein tau (neurofibrillary tangle protein, paired helical filament-tau, PHF-tau, MAPT, MTBT1, m-tau, mtau)
• microtubule-associated protein tau in serum/plasma
• tauopathy

Component of

• Tau/Abeta42 in CSF; amyloid-tau neurodegeneration (ATN) profile
• microtubule-associated protein tau/total protein in CSF