Protecting brain cells from destruction remains one of the biggest challenges in treating Alzheimer's disease and related neurodegenerative conditions. These disorders, known as tauopathies, involve the buildup of abnormal tangles of a protein called tau inside the brain. As the tangles accumulate, nearby neurons begin to die. However, growing evidence suggests that tau itself may not be responsible for most of the damage. Instead, the immune system's reaction to the protein appears to play a major role in the loss of brain cells, memory, and independence.
Scientists at Washington...