Synaptic Contacts Enhance Cell-to-Cell Tau Pathology Propagation

In BriefTau dysfunction causes neurodegeneration, and tau pathology spreading appears to occur along synaptically connected neurons.However, it is not known whether the actual presence of synapses enhances spreading.Using artificial neuronal circuits in vitro, Calafate et al. show that synaptic contacts promote spreading and that synaptic and non-synaptic mechanisms act in parallel.