Neuropathology | Predominant tau isoform | Affected cell types | Affected brain areas | Pathology hallmarks |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pick’s disease | 3R | Neurons and glia | Frontal lobes Temporal lobes Neostriatum Limbic system | Pick Bodies; Ballooned neurons/ Pick cells |
Corticobasal degeneration | 4R | Neurons and glia | Focal atrophy of superior frontal gyrus and parietal lobe | Pretangles; Astrocytic plaques (AP); Oligodendroglial coiled bodies (CB); Ballooned cells |
Progressive supranuclear palsy | 4R | Neurons and glia | Basal ganglia Brainstem Diencephalon Cortical regions | Globose neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs); Tufted astrocytes (TA); Oligodendroglial coiled bodies (CB); Neuropil threads |
Globular glial tauopathy | 4R | Neurons and glia | Frontal and temporal lobes Motor cortex Cerebral spinal tract | Globular oligodendrocytic incousions (GOIs); Globular astrocytic inclusions (GAIs); Neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions (NCIs) |
Argyrophilic grain disease | 4R | Neurons and glia | Anterior temporal lobe Amygdala Ambient gyrus Hippocampus | Argyrophilic grains; Coiled bodies; Neuronal pre-tangles; Ballooned neurons; Granular /fuzzy astrocytes |
Aging-related tau astrogliopathy | 4R | Astrocyte | Subpial, subependymal, perivascular, and white and grey matter areas | Thorn-shaped astrocytes (TSA); Granular-fuzzy astrocytes (GFA) |
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy | 3R + 4R | Neurons and glia | Hippocampus Neocortex Brainstem | Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs); Astrocytic tangles |
Primary age-related tauopathy | 3R + 4R | Neurons | Temporal lobes Basal forebrain Brainstem Olfactory bulb | Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) |
Alzheimer’s disease | 3R + 4R | Neurons | Neocortex Limbic regions | Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs); Amyloid plaques; Neuropil threads; Neuritic plaques |