Antioxidant therapies for the treatment of tauopathies

A study indicates that oxidative stress is an essential component of the pathophysiology of various neurodegenerative diseases and tauopathies.

The study was carried out by the team of Fernando Bartolomé and Eva Carro, researchers at the Neurodegenerative Diseases Network Biomedical Research Center (CIBERNED), in Spain.

Oxidative stress is the result of an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and the antioxidant capacity of cells.

Due to its high oxygen demand, the human brain is highly susceptible to oxidative stress.

Precisely, this imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and the antioxidant capacity of cells is one of the main reasons why tauopathies related to neurodegenerative disorders develop.

However, at present, it is unknown whether the accumulation of TAU protein is a cause or a consequence of oxidative stress.

CIBERNED group coordinated by Eva Carro. (Photo: CIBERNED)

The results of the new study offer a pathway to develop effective antioxidant therapies following a review of the link between tauopathies and oxidative stress.

These types of treatments offer promising results for treating tauopathies. However, clinical trials with antioxidants have not shown good results. In this sense, knowing the molecular mechanisms underlying oxidative stress in tauopathies would contribute to the development of more effective therapies to treat and/or prevent neurodegenerative diseases.

The study is titled “Oxidative Stress in Tauopathies: From Cause to Therapy.” And it has been published in the academic journal Antioxidants. (Source: CIBERNED)