Tau-aggregation inhibition: promising role of nanoencapsulated dietary molecules in the management of Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a cumulative form of dementia associated with memory loss, cognition
impairment, and finally leading to death. AD is characterized by abnormal deposits of extracellular
beta-amyloid and intracellular Tau-protein tangles throughout the brain. During pathological
conditions of AD, Tau protein undergoes various modifications and aggregates over time. A number
of clinical trials on patients with AD symptoms have indicated the effectiveness of Tau-based
therapies over anti-Aβ treatments. Thus, there is a huge paradigm shift toward Tau aggregation
inhibitors. Several bioactives of plants and microbes have been suggested to cross the neuronal
cell membrane and play a crucial role in managing neurodegenerative disorders. Bioactives mainly
act as active modulators of AD pathology besides having antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
potential. Studies also demonstrated the potential role of dietary molecules in inhibiting the
formation of Tau aggregates and removing toxic Tau. Further, these molecules in nonencapsulated
form exert enhanced Tau aggregation inhibition activity both in in vitro and in vivo studies
suggesting a remarkable role of nanoencapsulation in AD management. The present article aims
to review and discuss the structure-function relationship of Tau protein, the post-translational
modifications that aid Tau aggregation and potential bioactives that inhibit Tau aggregation.