07/03/2025
The problem is that we look to attack parts of the body instead of finding the root cause of dysfunction, and/or accepting the natural process and learning how to support it.
New research shows a protein blamed for Alzheimer’s may actually be crucial for building newborn brains, shaking long-held beliefs
A surprising new study has turned decades of Alzheimer’s dogma on its head. Scientists have discovered that p-tau217, a form of the tau protein long thought to be purely destructive in the brain, is found in astonishingly high levels in healthy newborn babies — even more than in Alzheimer’s patients. This finding suggests p-tau217 isn’t just a marker of disease but may actually be vital for early brain development.
Tau normally acts like scaffolding inside nerve cells, keeping them stable and helping them communicate. But in Alzheimer’s, tau becomes chemically altered into p-tau217, which clumps into tangles that choke brain cells, causing the memory loss and confusion typical of dementia. For years, high levels of p-tau217 have been viewed as a surefire sign of trouble. But this new research, led by the University of Gothenburg, shows that’s not the whole story.
Analyzing blood samples from over 400 people — from premature babies to seniors with Alzheimer’s — researchers found premature infants had the highest p-tau217 levels of all. These levels then plunged during the first months of life, stayed very low through adulthood, and only rose modestly again in Alzheimer’s patients. The fact that newborns can handle sky-high p-tau217 without damage suggests it plays a key role in wiring up the brain’s early networks, especially in regions tied to movement and touch.
This discovery could completely reshape how we diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s. It means high p-tau217 isn’t always a red flag — in babies, it’s part of healthy growth. More importantly, if we can figure out why infant brains tolerate or even need these levels without forming harmful tangles, we might uncover new ways to protect aging brains. Instead of only attacking tau as the villain, researchers may start asking how to keep its youthful, brain-building properties alive for longer.
Research References :
PMID: 40574977
PMCID: PMC12198956
The potential dual role of tau phosphorylation: plasma phosphorylated-tau217 in newborns and Alzheimer’s disease, Brain Communications, Volume 7, Issue 3, 2025, fcaf221,
