MAPT and Alzheimer disease: The potential benefit of inhibiting the intrinsic apoptotic pathway has been suggested through the use of a triple transgenic AD mouse model wherein overexpression of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 gene blocked activation of caspases 9 and 3; in these conditions, the degree of caspase cleavage of tau was limited, the formation of plaques and tangles was inhibited, and memory retention was improved [56, 57].