Figure 480: Effects of tau hyperphosphorylation on microtubules and neurons. Normal tau functions to stabilize axonal microtubule structures. Tau mutations and/or the dysregulation of kinases/phosphatases result in tau hyperphosphorylation. This eventually leads to the depolymerization of microtubules, formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), and the somato-dendritic localization of phosphorylated tau. Lastly, tau dysfunction causes defects in the axons of neurons and causes neuronal death.