Early tactile deficits in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and AD mouse models map to tau pathology in spinal cholecystokinin (CCK) neurons. In AD mice, reducing tau or c-Maf levels in spinal CCK neurons restores touch and benefits cognition, suggesting that these deficits are a noninvasive peripheral indication of early AD and offer a tractable target for intervention.
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References
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This is a summary of: Zhou, Y. et al. Spinal cord Tau pathology induces tactile deficits and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease via dysregulation of CCK neurons. Nat. Neurosci. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-025-02137-4 (2025).
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Tau pathology in mouse spinal neurons underlies early touch loss and heralds cognitive decline. Nat Neurosci 29, 252–253 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-025-02138-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-025-02138-3
