Summary

Neurodegeneration refers to the progressive loss of neuron structure or function, which may eventually lead to cell death. Many neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease and prion disease, are the results of neurodegenerative processes. Neurodegeneration can be found in many different levels of neuronal circuits in the brain, from molecules to systems. Since there is no known method to reverse the progressive degeneration of neurons, these diseases are considered incurable. Biomedical research has revealed many similarities between these diseases at the subcellular level, including atypical protein assembly (such as protein diseases) and induction of cell death. These similarities indicate that progress in the treatment of one neurodegenerative disease may also improve other diseases. This collection of entries aims to collect various medical research results related to neurodegeneration. We invite researchers to share their new results and ideas related to neurodegeneration.

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Entries
Topic Review
Potential of Cannabinoids in Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is the predominant autoimmune disorder affecting the central nervous system in adolescents and adults. Specific treatments are categorized as disease-modifying, whereas others are symptomatic treatments to alleviate painful symptoms. No singular conventional therapy is universally effective for all patients across all stages of the illness. Nevertheless, cannabinoids exhibit significant promise in their capacity for neuroprotection, anti-inflammation, and immunosuppression. 
  • 387
  • 28 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Stroke of Cortical Hand Knob Area
The cortical hand knob region of the brain is a knob-like segment of the precentral gyrus, projecting into the middle genu of the central sulcus. This anatomic landmark is responsible for intricate control of hand motor movements and has often been implicated in motor weakness following stroke.
  • 437
  • 27 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Preclinical and Clinical Endeavors Targeting Mitochondria
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons, for which current treatment options are limited. Recent studies have shed light on the role of mitochondria in ALS pathogenesis, making them an attractive therapeutic intervention target.
  • 394
  • 26 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Anticancer Drugs and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare progressive motor neuron disease that, due to its high complexity, still lacks effective treatments. Development of a new drug is a highly costly and time-consuming process, and the repositioning of approved drugs can represent an efficient strategy to provide therapeutic opportunities. This is particularly true for rare diseases, which are characterised by small patient populations and therefore attract little commercial interest. Based on the overlap between the biological background of cancer and neurodegeneration, the repurposing of antineoplastic drugs for ALS has been suggested.
  • 323
  • 21 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Primary Lateral Sclerosis
Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder which causes the selective deterioration of the upper motor neurons (UMNs), sparing the lower motor neuron (LMN) system. The clinical course is defined by a progressive motor disability due to muscle spasticity which typically involves lower extremities and bulbar muscles. Although classically considered a sporadic disease, some familiar cases and possible causative genes have been reported. Despite it having been recognized as a rare but distinct entity, whether it actually represents an extreme end of the motor neuron diseases continuum is still an open issue. The main knowledge gap is the lack of specific biomarkers to improve the clinical diagnostic accuracy. Indeed, the diagnostic imprecision, together with some uncertainty about overlap with UMN-predominant ALS and Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP), has become an obstacle to the development of specific therapeutic trials.
  • 454
  • 31 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Photodynamic Therapy: Principles and Reaction Mechanisms
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a two-stage treatment that implies the use of light energy, oxygen, and light-activated compounds (photosensitizers) to elicit cancerous and precancerous cell death after light activation (phototoxicity). The biophysical, bioengineering aspects and its combinations with other strategies are highlighted herein, both conceptually and as they are currently applied clinically. Advancements of PDT with the use of nanotechnology are further explored, including quantum dots as innovative photosensitizers or energy donors as well as the combination of PDT with radiotherapy and immunotherapy as future promising cancer treatments. Finally, the potential significance of organoids as physiologically relevant models for PDT has been emphasized.
  • 490
  • 26 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Central and Peripheral Nervous System Complications in AFD
Fabry disease (FD) is a recessive monogenic disease linked to chromosome X due to more than two hundred mutations in the alfa-galactosidase A (GLA) gene. In Anderson–Fabry disease (AFD), deficiency of the enzyme alfa-galactosidase A (α-GalA) leads to an abnormal buildup of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3), which is associated with end-organ damage, progressive organ failure, and subsequent clinical manifestations.
  • 305
  • 25 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Bioflavonoids for Targeting Gut Microbiome in Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), the most common type of dementia, is known as a neurodegenerative disease caused by the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides and tau protein hyperphosphorylation resulting in the formation of neurofibrillary tangles, activation of inflammasomes, sluggish autophagy, and neuronal loss. Several of these hallmarks are linked to alteration in the gut microbiome, also known as gut dysbiosis. Selective bioflavonoids can target gut microbiome to inhibit inflammasomes and resume autophagy to stop AD pathogenesis. Two bioflavonoids, specifically epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and genistein (GS), appear to be a new paradigm of treatment for maintaining healthy gut microbiome in AD via modulating crucial AD signaling pathways.
  • 617
  • 03 Mar 2024
Topic Review
C9orf72-Associated Toxic Dipeptide Repeats
Protein homeostasis is essential for neuron longevity, requiring a balanced regulation between protein synthesis and degradation. The clearance of misfolded and aggregated proteins, mediated by autophagy and the ubiquitin–proteasome systems, maintains protein homeostasis in neurons, which are post-mitotic and thus cannot use cell division to diminish the burden of misfolded proteins. When protein clearance pathways are overwhelmed or otherwise disrupted, the accumulation of misfolded or aggregated proteins can lead to the activation of ER stress and the formation of stress granules, which predominantly attempt to restore the homeostasis by suppressing global protein translation. Alterations in these processes have been widely reported among studies investigating the toxic function of dipeptide repeats (DPRs) produced by G4C2 expansion in the C9orf72 gene of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
  • 514
  • 26 Jan 2024
Topic Review
MSC-Based Therapies in Post-Acute Neurological COVID Syndrome
One of the main concerns related to SARS-CoV-2 infection is the symptoms that could be developed by survivors, known as long COVID, a syndrome characterized by persistent symptoms beyond the acute phase of the infection. This syndrome has emerged as a complex and debilitating condition with a diverse range of manifestations affecting multiple organ systems. It is increasingly recognized for affecting the Central Nervous System, in which one of the most prevalent manifestations is cognitive impairment. The search for effective therapeutic interventions has led to growing interest in Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC)-based therapies due to their immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and tissue regenerative properties.
  • 703
  • 10 Jan 2024
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