Ask AI: Why is p-tau and t-tau efficient biomarkers for AD but not for PD and PSP

? P-tau and t-tau are efficient biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) because they are proteins found in the brains of individuals with AD. P-tau is an abnormal form of tau protein that is found in neurons of people with AD and is thought to cause abnormal accumulation of tangles in the brain. T-tau is a form of tau protein found in the brains of healthy people and is believed to be protective against cognitive decline. However, these proteins are not as efficient biomarkers for Parkinson’s disease (PD) or Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). This is because the mechanisms of these diseases are quite different to that of Alzheimer’s. For instance, in PD the primary cause of cell death is the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, whereas in AD it is the aggregation of tau protein. As a result, P-tau and t-tau are not reliable predictors of disease progression in these two conditions.