Therapeutics: Microtubule-associated protein τ (tau; MAPT; FTDP-17); E1A binding protein p300 (EP300; p300)

Studies in mice and cells suggest the NSAIDs salicylate and salsalate could help treat AD, frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and other tauopathies. Brain tissue samples from patients with AD had higher levels of acetylated tau and EP300 - an inducer of tau acetylation - than samples from control subjects. In rat primary neurons expressing mutant human tau, salicylate decreased levels of tau and EP300 compared with vehicle. In a mouse model of FTD, salsalate decreased EP300-induced tau acetylation in the brain, brain levels of tau and hippocampal atrophy, and increased spatial memory compared with vehicle. Next steps include modifying and testing salsalate analogs in models of AD and other neurological diseases...