The case for soluble Aβ oligomers as a drug target in Alzheimer's disease.

•Soluble Aβ oligomers are acutely synaptotoxic and contribute to tau pathology.•Confusing terminology and methodologies hamper the science of soluble Aβ oligomers.•There are promising drug discovery targets related to soluble Aβ oligomers.•Translational tools facilitate clinical proof of concept in short trials.