Anti–tau therapies for tauopathies

Abstract

Tauopathy is a pathological condition characterized by the accumulation of tau with abnormal folding structures in the central nervous system. In this review, we discuss the normal functions of tau, the pathophysiology of tauopathy, the mechanisms of various anti–tau therapies, and future perspectives on anti–tau therapy. Although the function of tau in stabilizing microtubules is well known, it is also recognized to have other functions. In tauopathy, the gain of toxic function due to tau aggregation and loss of function are important. Anti–tau therapies generally involve immunotherapies, including anti–tau antibodies, post–translational modification modifiers, microtubule stabilizers, antisense oligonucleotides, and agents targeting neuroinflammation. However, the efficacy of these approaches remains unestablished, which requires further studies of more sophisticated treatments, as well as the pathophysiology of tauopathy and improved clinical trials.