> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smartseniordaily.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Next Alzheimer's Drug Race Is Aimed at Tau. Here's What It Means for You. - URL: https://www.smartseniordaily.com/the-next-alzheimers-drug-race-is-aimed-at-tau-heres-what-it-means-for-you/ - Published: 2026-10-10T06:16:35.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-10T06:16:34.000Z - Description: What should families keep in mind about promising new drugs? An Alzheimer's expert explains. - Author: Smart Senior Daily Staff - Tags: Alzheimer's, Brain Health For years, nearly every [Alzheimer's drug](https://www.smartseniordaily.com/daily-steps-may-delay-alzheimers-progression-study-finds/) in the headlines went after one thing: **amyloid**, the sticky protein that clumps into plaques in the brain. **Drug companies are now turning to a different suspect**, and a lot of hard cash is following them. According to an [Axios report published Sept. 28](https://www.axios.com/2026/09/28/alzheimers-drug-market-tau?ref=smartseniordaily.com), a new analysis from the investment bank TD Cowen estimates that the market for next-generation Alzheimer's treatments could reach $70 billion within a decade. The target getting all that attention is a protein called tau. ## What Tau Does In a healthy brain, tau has a useful job. Think of the inside of a nerve cell as a rail line, with nutrients and signals riding the tracks from one end to the other. Tau works like the railroad ties that hold those tracks steady. In Alzheimer's, tau comes loose and knots into tangles. The ties pile up in heaps, the tracks buckle, and the freight stops moving. Researchers have linked those tangles to memory loss and to other conditions such as frontotemporal dementia. [What Your Doctor Wants You to Know About Alzheimer’sSymptoms don’t appear overnight, but here’s what they look like when they do![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d9/1a/d91a71e8-ed81-4ec8-8028-ec14ba129b35/content/images/icon/SSD-FavIcon1-ce268b9f-3e1f-41d9-a1d4-6b4de830b6a6.png)Smart Senior DailySmart Senior Daily Staff![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d9/1a/d91a71e8-ed81-4ec8-8028-ec14ba129b35/content/images/thumbnail/Alzheimer-s-Discussion-8a029755-eb88-45e4-9f0e-2601072b4116.png)](https://www.smartseniordaily.com/what-your-doctor-wants-you-to-know-about-alzheimers/) ## Why Now Among the [more than 100 drugs](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40463637/?ref=smartseniordaily.com) in the Alzheimer's disease development pipeline, a possible turning point came in July, when **a tau-targeting therapy from Biogen was shown to slow cognitive decline in people with early Alzheimer's, with only mild to moderate side effects**. Doctors seem eager. **In TD Cowen's survey, 88% of physicians said they'd likely use an effective drug that didn't need as much monitoring for brain swelling and other side effects.** And it's brain swelling and side effects where the teeter may begin to totter. The two amyloid drugs already approved—**Leqembi**, from Eisai and Biogen, and **Kisunla**, from Eli Lilly—**both modestly slow the disease in people with** [**mild cognitive impairment**](https://www.smartseniordaily.com/your-driving-might-predict-cognitive-decline-but-most-older-adults-arent-planning-ahead/)**. Both also carry risks of brain swelling and bleeding**, so patients need regular MRI scans. Joseph Thome, a managing director at TD Cowen, told Axios that a new drug would need to slow progression by roughly 25% to 30% to make a significant impact over what's currently available. That's Wall Street's view. Here's a doctor's. ## A "Promising New Drug"? What Families Should Keep in Mind Smart Senior Daily asked [**Allison B. Reiss, M.D.**](https://medli.nyu.edu/faculty/allison-b-reiss?ref=smartseniordaily.com), Associate Professor of Medicine at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine and part of the [**Alzheimer's Foundation of America Medical Advisory Board**](https://alzfdn.org/spousal-caregiving-study/research-team/?ref=smartseniordaily.com), what any family considering one of these promising new drugs should think about before moving forward. > "This is such an important question. I hear from so many patients around the country when a possible new treatment receives media attention," Reiss commented. > > "My years of experience in this field have led me to advise caution because the headlines tend to overstate the prospects and downplay the negatives, and often these so-called 'promising drugs' fall far short of expectations." Families living with Alzheimer's want progress badly, Reiss said, and that leaves them understandably vulnerable to hype. > "Often these so-called 'promising drugs' fall far short of expectations," she said, "and this can be a setup for disappointment." a "promising" drug falls short, they're the ones left disappointed." She offered a few ways to separate speculation from the real facts: 1. **Go to a trusted source**. This can be your healthcare provider, the [Alzheimer's Foundation of America](https://alzfdn.org/?ref=smartseniordaily.com) or other reputable organizations. 2. **Look at the original source material**. Many articles and news reports are based on scholarly publications in medical journals, and if you read the actual published paper, it is often clear and accurate and describes the limitations and flaws in the study. 3. **Just because a drug was found to be effective in mice or other animals doesn't mean it will also work in humans**. Replicating that process for humans takes many years and is often unsuccessful. 4. **Claims without published clinical trial data** in reputable medical journals indicate unverified or false medical information. 5. **Patient testimonials are not the same thing as scientific proof** of a drug's effectiveness. Personal anecdotes about a drug's therapeutic value are not a substitute for clinical evidence. 6. **One more issue relates to non-prescription treatments**. Sometimes a supplement or chemical compound will be put in the spotlight as a "miracle cure," and this can lead to overconsumption and side effects. A recent example is lithium orotate and papers claiming that lithium deficiency may contribute to Alzheimer's disease. Safe dosing is unproven, and older adults are particularly susceptible to lithium toxicity, so more is definitely not better in this case. --- Disclaimer: The content published on Smart Senior Daily is intended for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Nothing on this site should be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific treatment, medication, or course of action, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise routine, medications, or other aspects of your health care. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this site. Smart Senior Daily makes every effort to present accurate, up-to-date health information, but we cannot guarantee the completeness or timeliness of any content. Health information changes frequently, and what is current today may be revised as new research emerges. Individual health needs vary widely. Information that applies generally may not be appropriate for your personal situation. Smart Senior Daily is not affiliated with any medical institution, health system, or pharmaceutical company.