Importantly, NMNAT neuroprotection was also confirmed in a mouse model of tauopathy, where NMNAT2 was downregulated in both cortex and hippocampus of mice overexpressing the FTDP-17 associated mutant tau P301L. In this model, hippocampal-specific overexpression of either NMNAT1or NMNAT2 significantly reduced hippocampal neuronal loss [19]. The gene discussed is NMNAT2; the disease is semantic dementia.