Tau protein is a potential biological marker for normal pressure hydrocephalus

A biological marker for normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is beneficial f or evaluation of its severity and of indications for shunt operation. Tau p rotein was initially considered as a biological marker in cerebrospinal flu id (CSF) from Alzheimer's patients. Recently, it has been demonstrated that degeneration in the brain causes elevation of tau in CSF. Therefore, the t au level in CSF from NPH patients was evaluated. Tau levels in CSF from NPH patients were significantly higher than that in controls. The tau levels w ere correlated with the severity of dementia, urinary incontinence, and gai t disturbance in NPH. These results suggest that CSF tau may be useful as a biological marker for NPH to determine the level of neuronal degeneration.