Anti‑Tau refers to autoantibodies that bind to tau, a microtubule‑associated protein concentrated in neurons. Tau's core role is to stabilize microtubules and support axonal transport; when tau becomes exposed outside cells or modified, the immune system can generate measurable antibodies. These antibodies are typically immunoglobulins detectable in blood. Anti‑Tau has emerged in research examining neuroimmune responses after injury, infection, or other triggers that expose neuronal proteins. Lab detection uses sensitive immunoassays—such as chemiluminescent microarray platforms—to quantify antibody levels for clinical context.

Elevated Anti‑Tau levels may reflect immune recognition of neuronal tau protein, which can occur when neuronal components are exposed to the immune system because of inflammation, barrier disruption, or prior cellular stress. Higher values are a signal of an immune pattern involving a structural neuronal target, but they do not by themselves indicate a specific outcome. Low or undetectable Anti‑Tau levels mean there is little or no measurable antibody response in the sampled blood. Absence of Anti‑Tau does not rule out neural symptoms, since immune activity can be limited to other targets, localized in the central nervous system, transient, or below assay detection limits. Interpretation is most informative when combined with the full Neural Zoomer panel and clinical findings.

Anti‑Tau is included in the Neural Zoomer to evaluate immune targeting of a core neuronal structural protein. By measuring Anti‑Tau alongside markers of inflammation, blood–brain barrier integrity, and other neural targets, providers gain a clearer picture of whether immune activity involves neuronal cytoskeleton components and how that pattern fits the individual's overall neuroimmune profile.