Neuronal thread protein (NTP) is composed almost entirely of Alu repeat sequences, and the mRNA encoding this protein is e, Xenopus/Amphibian,pressed in neurons. Overe, Xenopus/Amphibian,pression of NTP is associated with neurofibrillary tangles of Alzheimer's disease. Both CSF and urine levels of NTP have been investigated as a biochemical marker of Alzheimer's disease. In vitro studies have also demonstrated that abnormal e, Xenopus/Amphibian,pression of this protein promotes neuritic sprouting and cell death, which is associated with dementia in Alzheimer's disease.