Arc Protein Emerges as Key Driver in Alzheimer’s Tau Spread

Researchers at the University of Utah report that Arc, a brain protein important for neuron signaling, also helps package and transmit the toxic tau protein between brain cells in Alzheimer’s models. In mice lacking Arc, neuron-to-neuron tau transmission dropped significantly, suggesting Arc could be a new target to slow disease progression. However, Arc is also vital for learning and memory, so therapies would need to block tau transport without disrupting Arc’s normal function. Most findings come from mouse studies, and it remains unclear how well this translates to humans.