# Treating Lewy Body Dementia by Targeting Patients Without Tau Protein > This patent describes a method to treat a specific type of Dementia with Lewy Bodies in patients who don't have a lot of another brain protein called tau, using a special kind of drug. - **Patent:** US 12734174 - **Original title:** Treatment of a selective population of patients having dementia with Lewy bodies - **Granted:** 2026 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 0 - **Field:** biotech, pharmaceutical, neuroscience ## What it does The patent provides methods and compositions for treating subjects diagnosed with Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB). It specifically focuses on a population of patients who have DLB but do not show 'substantial tau pathology' in their brains, meaning they don't have a significant buildup of tau protein. These specific patients are shown to respond particularly well to treatment with a 'selective p38α mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor'. For example, a patient diagnosed with DLB who tests negative for high levels of tau protein could be given a drug that specifically blocks the p38α MAPK pathway. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover treating Dementia with Lewy Bodies in patients who do have substantial tau pathology, as they are shown to be less responsive. - Does not cover treatments for other forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease, unless they also present as DLB without substantial tau pathology. - Does not cover general p38α MAPK inhibitors; it specifies a selective p38α MAPK inhibitor, implying a need for targeted action. - Does not cover treatments for DLB that are not based on inhibiting p38α MAPK. ## The clever bit The novelty lies in identifying a specific subgroup of Dementia with Lewy Bodies patients—those without substantial tau pathology—who are uniquely responsive to p38α MAPK inhibitors. This suggests a targeted treatment approach rather than a one-size-fits-all therapy, improving the chances of treatment success. ## Real-world examples 1. Targeted therapies for neurodegenerative diseases 2. Precision medicine approaches in neurology 3. Drug development for Dementia with Lewy Bodies ## Why it matters This patent highlights a personalized medicine approach for Dementia with Lewy Bodies, suggesting that treatment efficacy can be improved by identifying specific patient subgroups. By focusing on patients without substantial tau pathology, it aims to provide a more effective therapeutic strategy for a challenging neurodegenerative condition. This could lead to better outcomes for a subset of DLB patients who currently have limited treatment options. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does Treating Lewy Body Dementia by Targeting Patients Without Tau Protein cover? This patent describes a method to treat a specific type of Dementia with Lewy Bodies in patients who don't have a lot of another brain protein called tau, using a special kind of drug. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What problem does this patent solve? This patent highlights a personalized medicine approach for Dementia with Lewy Bodies, suggesting that treatment efficacy can be improved by identifying specific patient subgroups. By focusing on patients without substantial tau pathology, it aims to provide a more effective therapeutic strategy for a challenging neurodegenerative condition. This could lead to better outcomes for a subset of DLB patients who currently have limited treatment options. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover treating Dementia with Lewy Bodies in patients who do have substantial tau pathology, as they are shown to be less responsive. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734174/treatment-of-a-selective-population-of-patients-having-dementia-with-lewy-bodies **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US12734174 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [Diagnosing Brain Diseases by Measuring a Protein in Blood or Urine](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20220283184/novel-diagnostic-marker-for-creutzfeldt-jakob-disease-and-alzheimers-disease) — This patent describes a method for diagnosing brain diseases like Alzheimer's and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease by measuring the amount of a specific protein called beta-synuclein in non-spinal fluid samples such as blood or urine. - [Detecting Alzheimer's Risk Early with a Blood Test and Brain Scan](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11193946/blood-biomarker-for-discerning-beta-amyloid-accumulation-in-brain) — This patent describes a two-step method to predict early Alzheimer's disease by first checking specific protein levels in a blood sample, and then, if certain markers are low, performing a brain scan to confirm amyloid beta buildup. - [Diagnosing Brain Conditions by Watching Lab-Grown Neurons Light Up](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12736528/diagnostic-methods-for-neural-disorders) — This patent describes a method to diagnose brain disorders by taking a patient's cell, turning it into a neuron, making it glow when active, and comparing its light patterns to a genetically matched healthy cell. - [How Oligonucleotides Target C9orf72 for Brain Diseases](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12735703/oligonucleotide-compositions-and-methods-of-use-thereof) — This patent describes using special genetic molecules called oligonucleotides to treat brain diseases like ALS and FTD by targeting a specific gene called C9orf72. - [Checking if Brain Injury Drugs Work Using Saliva or Urine](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20200371093/prognostic-and-diagnostic-glycan-based-biomarkers-of-brain-damage) — This patent describes a method to determine if a drug for brain injury is effective by measuring specific sugar molecules in a patient's saliva or urine samples over time.