In our systems-based review of the biomedical landscape supporting research of a cellular protein called tau—a common culprit in a number of neurodegenerative diseases—we make the case that focused strategic investment in tau research and the category of neurodegenerative diseases called tauopathies, could have a transformative impact on the landscape of neurodegenerative diseases writ large.

We have identified specific areas where carefully targeted funding, particularly philanthropic capital, could have an outsized impact on the field.

Overview

Tauopathies are a class of neurodegenerative diseases associated with the aggregation of tau protein. These diseases include Alzheimer’s disease, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), and more than 20 others including several forms of fronto-temporal dementia. Although the individual tauopathies are typically studied in terms of each unique disease, this report discusses the diseases and their underlying science as a whole because the tau protein appears to play an integral role across all of them.

Tauopathies appear to share common mechanisms that lead to cell death; however, the symptoms experienced by patients vary and have led to a range of distinct diagnoses. Primary symptoms are classified according to the physiological system affected and include motor, cognitive, behavioral, and language.

Diagnosis

Across the tauopathies, no single test can determine the diagnosis or the specific type of tauopathy driving symptoms. Instead, clinicians use a variety of assessment tools such as a physical examination, laboratory tests, and medical history to make a diagnosis.