Tara Spires-Jones, PhD, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, discusses her research on the spread of oligomeric tau through synapses in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Using an adapted ray tomography technique combined with immunohistochemistry and microscopy, her study identified oligomeric tau accumulation in both the temporal and occipital lobes, with evidence suggesting tau spreads through synaptic connections. Additionally, research on living human brain slices from patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) revealed that oligomeric tau uptake by post-synaptic sites leads to astrocyte-induced synapse loss. This research aims to contribute to the understanding of tau propagation throughout the brain to develop treatments that could halt its spread and treat AD. This interview took place at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference® (AAIC) 2024 in Philadelphia, PA.
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