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Published in: Drugs 3/2016

Open Access 01-03-2016 | Leading Article

Tau Biology and Tau-Directed Therapies for Alzheimer’s Disease

Authors: Lidia Bakota, Roland Brandt

Published in: Drugs | Issue 3/2016

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Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterised by a progressive loss of cognitive functions. Histopathologically, AD is defined by the presence of extracellular amyloid plaques containing Aβ and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau proteins. According to the now well-accepted amyloid cascade hypothesis is the Aβ pathology the primary driving force of AD pathogenesis, which then induces changes in tau protein leading to a neurodegenerative cascade during the progression of disease. Since many earlier drug trials aiming at preventing Aβ pathology failed to demonstrate efficacy, tau and microtubules have come into focus as prominent downstream targets. The article aims to develop the current concept of the involvement of tau in the neurodegenerative triad of synaptic loss, cell death and dendritic simplification. The function of tau as a microtubule-associated protein and versatile interaction partner will then be introduced and the rationale and progress of current tau-directed therapy will be discussed in the biological context.
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Metadata
Title
Tau Biology and Tau-Directed Therapies for Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors
Lidia Bakota
Roland Brandt
Publication date
01-03-2016
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Drugs / Issue 3/2016
Print ISSN: 0012-6667
Electronic ISSN: 1179-1950
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-015-0529-0

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