In conclusion, our data have demonstrated that the swellings of axons and varicosities occurred early and could exist for up to 4 w after transient cerebral ischemia/reperfusion accompanied by weak Tau expression, but without the over-expression of β-amyloid and amyloid deposition, which may be important for understanding the role of ischemic stroke in the pathogenesis of AD. The gene discussed is MAPT; the disease is transient ischemic attack.