Microtubule-Associated Protein TAU is abundantly expressed in neurons of the central nervous system and less commonly expressed elsewhere, but is also expressed at very low levels in CNS astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Tau interacts with tubulin to stabilize microtubules and promotes tubulin assembly into microtubules. The C-terminus of TAU binds axonal microtubules while the N-terminus binds neural plasma membrane components, suggesting that tau acts as a linker protein. When tau is defective, and no longer stabilize microtubules properly, it can result in dementias such as Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies.