Tau-based therapies for Alzheimer's disease: wave of the future?

The development of effective neuroprotective agents for sporadic Alzheimer's disease is a formidable challenge because this disease is multifactorial and heterogeneous. Tau-mediated neurotoxicity lias been implicated as a downstream effector of Abeta pathology and as an increasingly compelling target for Alzheimer's disease therapies. The tau hypothesis of pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease proposes that dysregulation of tau phosphorylation, misfolding and subsequent aggregation of tau and tau fibrillization may play a significant role in causing synaptic loss and neuronal loss. Thus, reducing hyperphosphotylation of tau, reducing aggregation of tau and promoting clearance of hyperphosphorylated tau and tau aggregates may reduce neurotoxicity and may be important in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. An expanding number of tau-based therapies (eg, kinase inhibitors, mictrotubule stabilizers) are being investigated by researchers in both the pharmaceutical industry and academia. Research in the next few years may soon bring the full potential of tau-based therapies for Alzheimer's disease in sight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]