MINI REVIEW article
Front. Neurosci.
Sec. Perception Science
Sensory deficiencies correlate with tau protein and dementia
Marina Avila Villanueva 1
Felix Hernandez 2
Jesus Avila 2
German Plascencia-Villa 3
George Perry 3
1. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
2. Centro de Biologia Molecular Severo Ochoa, Madrid, Spain
3. University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, United States
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Abstract
Sensory decline is a common feature of aging and an early sign of a high risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases. Abnormal protein deposits of tau are also observed in sensorial areas in early stages of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD), indicating that these two features are associated with common neuropathological changes in the affected brain areas. Alterations in taste and smell are evident in subjects with cognitive decline, but sensory decline is perceived in olfaction, vision, hearing (at early times of degeneration), and even touch, which correlates with disease progression. Consequently, affected individuals may suffer from varying altered behaviors that emerge from the declined capability to process and perceive information, suggesting that differences in sensory perception of the environment may play a key role in explaining these behavioral variations in subjects with cognitive impairment. This commentary discusses some of the alterations in sensory functionality and how these could contribute to the development of neurodegenerative disorders, such as ADRD.
Summary
Keywords
Cognitive dyfunctions, Dementia, sensory, Sensory dysfunction, tau
Received
25 November 2025
Accepted
18 February 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Avila Villanueva, Hernandez, Avila, Plascencia-Villa and Perry. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Jesus Avila; George Perry
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.