Brain HealthPINK1 Pathway Shields Brain Cells from Tau-Driven Damage Linked to Alzheimer's
Tau protein tangles are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease and some dementias, causing neurons to lose their branching dendrites — a change closely tied to cognitive decline. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh discovered that the kinase PINK1, already known for its role in Parkinson's disease, can fully reverse this tau-induced shrinkage in mouse cortical neurons. The rescue works through a signaling chain: PINK1 phosphorylates the VCP co-factor p47, and phosphorylated p47 recruits the protein STIP1, which in turn promotes dendritic complexity. Blocking STIP1 with RNA interference cancelled the neuroprotective effect, confirming it as an essential link. The findings reveal a novel PINK1-p47-STIP1 axis as a potential drug target for preserving neuronal architecture in Alzheimer's and related dementias.
