More specific to AD, TMAO has also been shown to restore the ability of mutant tau protein to promote microtubule assembly61,62 with microtubule disassembly and neuron death being hallmark pathological features of AD.63 In addition to its potential use as an AD biomarker,64 TMAO may also have a therapeutic effect in AD and other protein-misfolding conditions, by preferentially hydrating partially denatured proteins to correct folding defects and entropically stabilizing native conformations.65,66. This evidence concerns the gene MAPT and Alzheimer disease.