Tau and beta-amyloid in Alzheimer's disease: Theories, treatments strategies, and future directions.

Alzheimer's disease is a severe neurodegenerative disease characterized by the deposition of neuritic plaques on neuronal membranes and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles within neurons. Several proteins, such as amyloid beta and tau, play major roles in the pathophysiology and progression of Alzheimer's disease and are important factors to consider when developing novel therapeutics. The following review outlines the current understanding of the role these peptides play in Alzheimer's and the state of therapeutics that target them. Contrary to previous theories, it is now understood that soluble amyloid beta and tau proteins are more neurotoxic than the insoluble aggregates they form. Treatments that target the individual biosynthetic pathways of these neurotoxic proteins have been ineffective. Thus, new therapies must overcome challenges associated with pharmacokinetics and clinical research design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]