Specifically, Tau reduction by transgenic mouse mating (Mapt+/− or Mapt−/− compared with Mapt+/+controls) ameliorated autistic features (e.g., repetitive self-grooming and social disinterest) in two different mouse lines, Scn1aRX/+ (sodium voltage-gated channel alpha subunit 1A-R1407* modeling Dravet syndrome) and Cntnap2–/– mice (contactin associated protein 2 representing a relatively prevalent autism-causing protein deficiency). This evidence concerns the gene MAPT and encephalopathy, progressive, early-onset, with brain edema and/or leukoencephalopathy.