CASP2 and Alzheimer disease: In addition, since Casp2-catalyzed production of the tau-13-immunoreactive Δtau314 mediates synaptotoxicity in cellular models and cognition-impairing effects in mice, and levels of the tau-13-immunoprecipitated Δtau314 proteins are higher in subjects with mild cognitive impairment and AD than cognitively normal individuals [44], we focused on tau-13-immunoprecipitated Δtau314 proteins for this study.