High tau protein levels 'linked to poor recovery from brain injury'RSS Feed

High levels of tau protein in the brain have been linked to poor recovery levels following brain injury.

Research conducted at Washington University in St Louis revealed that patients with the highest tau levels in the first 12 hours after brain injury had worse outcomes six to 12 months later.

Scientists said that while the correlation between tau protein levels and brain injury is not perfect, it is a more effective marker than those currently used, including measures of glucose, glutamate and the ratio of lactate to pyruvate in the brain.

Senior author David L Brody commented on the study: "We are particularly interested in finding ways to predict prognosis after traumatic brain injury.

"Right now, it’s very hard to tell who is going to live, who is going to die, who is going to have severe disability and who is going to recover well."

Tau is part of the cellular scaffolding that functions to protect and support scaffolding in the brain.

Serious Law, award winning brain injury law firm

Posted by Matthew Heap

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