New classification of tauopathies

Rev Neurol (Paris). 2018 Nov;174(9):664-668. doi: 10.1016/j.neurol.2018.07.001. Epub 2018 Aug 8.

Abstract

Tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by pathological intracellular deposits of the protein tau. Isoform composition, morphology and anatomical distribution of cellular tau-immunoreactivities are defining distinct tauopathies as molecular pathological disease entities. The clinical spectrum of tauopathies includes syndromes with primary motor symptoms and with primary cognitive dysfunction. The traditional syndrome-based classification is currently being complemented by a molecular-pathological classification. While the syndrome-based classification is helpful to select symptomatic therapies, and to generate clinical working hypotheses about underlying etiologies, the molecular-pathological classification is most important for the development and application of molecularly tailored disease-modifying therapies.

Keywords: Corticobasal degeneration; Corticobasal syndrome; Progressive supranuclear palsy; Richardson's syndrome; Tauopathies.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / classification
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / genetics
  • Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive / classification
  • Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive / genetics
  • Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive / physiopathology
  • Tauopathies / classification*
  • Tauopathies / genetics
  • Tauopathies / physiopathology