Alzheimer’s Disease Neurofibrillary Pathophysiology: PTPRD- and Flavonol-Modified Mechanisms, Prevention and Therapeutics

A variety of evidence now supports two interrelated hypotheses concerning Alzheimer’s disease (AD) neurofibrillary pathology (NFT), its prevention and treatment. The first hypothesis: the receptor type protein tyrosine phosphatase D (PTPRD) plays a key role in AD NFT pathogenesis by modulating activities of neuronal glycogen synthase kinase 3s (GSK3s) in hyperphosphorylating tau. The second hypothesis: positive allosteric modulation of PTPRD’s downregulation of GSK3s by flavonols and improved flavonol analogs provides a novel path to prevention and treatment of AD. We review the convergence of evidence from human, mouse, in vitro and in silico studies that enhances the likely translational relevance of these hypotheses.