One of the reasons Alzheimer's research has been so ineffective is that we don't know what physiological role tau and amyloid play in healthy brain function. Evolution didn't invent them so we would get Alzheimer's.
Seeing that tau is elevated during development suggests what that role might be. It also suggests that blocking tau entirely in adults might not have any important side effects.
Qem•6h ago
> Seeing that tau is elevated during development suggests what that role might be.
I think this reinforces the hypothesis tau buildup and Alzheimer development are linked as side-effects of fighting infectious diseases. One thing newborns and seniors share is vulnerability to infections. Newborns because lack of previous exposure to pathogens. Seniors because of immune system senescence. Perhaps tau help protect newborns while they still lack acquired immunity to most common pathogens, and is reactivated back in some people by old age, as a Hail Mary effort to contain new or reactivating pathogens rampaging in face of failing defenses. That would explain the likely protective effect some vaccines, like shingles, have against Alzheimer.
Weryj•5h ago
Would it be wild to suggest that the lower immunity means there’s more immune action further in the body /w waste?
ProjectArcturis•7h ago
Seeing that tau is elevated during development suggests what that role might be. It also suggests that blocking tau entirely in adults might not have any important side effects.
Qem•6h ago
I think this reinforces the hypothesis tau buildup and Alzheimer development are linked as side-effects of fighting infectious diseases. One thing newborns and seniors share is vulnerability to infections. Newborns because lack of previous exposure to pathogens. Seniors because of immune system senescence. Perhaps tau help protect newborns while they still lack acquired immunity to most common pathogens, and is reactivated back in some people by old age, as a Hail Mary effort to contain new or reactivating pathogens rampaging in face of failing defenses. That would explain the likely protective effect some vaccines, like shingles, have against Alzheimer.
Weryj•5h ago
I don’t have the expertise to validate the idea.
Qem•4h ago