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Table 2 Neuropathological features of tauopathies

From: Tauopathies: new perspectives and challenges

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