Review: Tau Biochemistry and Therapeutics in Alzheimer’ s Disease

In addition, the insoluble, dissociated tau proteins tend to aggregate with one another in the cytoplasm, leading to the formation of toxic structures known as neurofibrillary tangles (NFT). Neuronal collapse and NFT formation are two potent factors that cause neurodegeneration in AD. Therefore, because of tau’s critical role in underlying AD—as well as other neurodegenerative diseases commonly grouped as tauopathies—researchers along the past two decades have rigorously developed and tested a wide array of tau-targeted therapies.

This review will outline the three therapeutic strategies scientists have established and will summarize the most noteworthy clinical trials for each of these strategies.