University of Cologne Feb 28 2025 A research team at the University of Cologne has made a significant breakthrough in understanding the role of the tau protein in Alzheimer's disease. Using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), the international team has been able to show that a specific form of the tau protein, known as the 1N4R isoform, is responsible for mediating the toxic effects of protein clumps in human brain cells. The study was published in the Alzheimer's & Dementia journal