An update on the association between traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer’s disease: Focus on Tau pathology and synaptic dysfunction

•Tau pathology and synaptic dysfunction are common features in TBI and AD.•Tau pathology in animal models of TBI is analyzed, focusing on implications in AD.•Evidence of TBI-mediated synaptic impairments is reviewed.•Overlapped mechanisms underlying synaptic dysfunction in TBI and AD are discussed.•We propose future perspectives on uncovering the link between TBI and AD.