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
Antioxidant Therapy in Oxidative Stress-Induced Neurodegenerative Diseases
Free radicals are formed as a part of normal metabolic activities but are neutralized by the endogenous antioxidants present in cells/tissue, thus maintaining the redox balance. This redox balance is disrupted in certain neuropathophysiological conditions, causing oxidative stress, which is implicated in several progressive neurodegenerative diseases. Following neuronal injury, secondary injury progression is also caused by excessive production of free radicals. Highly reactive free radicals, mainly the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), damage the cell membrane, proteins, and DNA, which triggers a self-propagating inflammatory cascade of degenerative events. Dysfunctional mitochondria under oxidative stress conditions are considered a key mediator in progressive neurodegeneration. Exogenous delivery of antioxidants holds promise to alleviate oxidative stress to regain the redox balance.
  • 1.1K
  • 24 Feb 2022
Topic Review
The Effects of Diets on the “Gut–Brain” Pathways
With depression becoming increasingly prevalent, being closely associated with stress, and many patients exhibiting resistance to current treatments, depression pathophysiology requires further elucidation. Recent research has shown complex bidirectional links between the brain and the gut, and the gut microbiota and the influence of diet is beginning to provide new clues to the complex nature of this disorder. It is well known that diet is a key modulator of gut microbial composition. In humans, good quality plant-based diets such as the Mediterranean diet have been shown to reduce pathogenic bacteria in the gut, increase Bifidobacterium and Clostridium, as well as lower the risk of depression, while poorer quality diets such as the Western diet have been shown to reduce Lactobacillus in the gut, reduce overall gut microbial diversity and have been associated with increased depression risk. Evaluating the effects of diets on the brain-to-gut and gut-to-brain mechanisms in animal models of stress and depression may aid in the elucidation of the pathophysiology of depression and may provide novel therapeutic approaches. 
  • 731
  • 21 Feb 2022
Topic Review
GM1 Ganglioside and Parkinson’s Disease
GM1 (monosialotetrahexosylganglioside) the "prototype" ganglioside, is a member of the ganglio series of gangliosides which contain one sialic acid residue. GM1 has important physiological properties and impacts neuronal plasticity and repair mechanisms, and the release of neurotrophins in the brain.
  • 488
  • 18 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Niacin
Niacin (also known as “vitamin B3” or “vitamin PP”) includes two vitamers (nicotinic acid and nicotinamide) giving rise to the coenzymatic forms nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP).
  • 2.0K
  • 17 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Caregiving in Parkinson´s Disease and Deep Brain Stimulation
In Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, the progressive nature of the disease and the variability of disabling motor and non-motor symptoms contribute to the growing caregiver burden (CB) of PD partners and conflicts in their relationships. In advanced stages of the disease, Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) improves PD symptoms and patients quality of life but the effect of DBS on CB of PD partners seems to be heterogeneous. The CB in the context of DBS framing both pre-, peri- and postoperative aspects aims to be illuminated, and further recognition of caregiver burden in partners of PD patients with DBS will be stimulated.
  • 589
  • 18 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Calcium and Axotomy
Neurotrauma assumes an instant or delayed disconnection of axons (axotomy), which affects not only neurons, but surrounding glia as well. Not only mechanically injured glia near the site of disconnection, especially transection, is subjected to the damage, but also glia that is remote from the lesion site. Glial cells, which surround the neuronal body, in turn, support neuron survival, so there is a mutual protection between neuron and glia. Calcium signaling is a central mediator of all post-axotomy events, both in neuron and glia, playing a critical role in their survival/regeneration or death/degeneration. The involvement of calcium in post-axotomy survival of the remote, mechanically intact glia is poorly studied. 
  • 464
  • 11 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Direct Current Stimulation in Cell Culture&Brain Slices
Non-invasive direct current stimulation (DCS) of the human brain induces neuronal plasticity and alters plasticity-related cognition and behavior and in vitro and ex vivo approaches can help to understand the underlying mechanism in more details. In the clinical domain, tDCS emerged as a valuable non-invasive brain stimulation tool to ameliorate symptoms in diseases accompanied by pathological alterations of cortical activity and plasticity such as depression, schizophrenia, pain syndromes, epilepsy, and in rehabilitation, amongst others. Although various mechanistic studies are available in humans and also in animal models, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying the neuromodulatory effects of tDCS are yet not fully understood. Therefore, gathering more direct evidence using sophisticated neurobiological techniques such as cell-based assays (in vitro), brain slices (ex vivo), or in vivo animal models are required to supplement existing knowledge.
  • 382
  • 09 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Antioxidants in Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease, intensifying impairments in cognition, behavior, and memory. Histopathological AD variations include extracellular senile plaques’ formation, tangling of intracellular neurofibrils, and synaptic and neuronal loss in the brain. Multiple evidence directly indicates that oxidative stress participates in an early phase of AD before cytopathology. Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in activating and causing various cell signaling pathways that result in lesion formations of toxic substances, which advances the disease. Antioxidants are widely preferred to combat oxidative stress, and those derived from natural sources, which are often incorporated into dietary habits, can play an important role in delaying the onset as well as reducing the progression of AD. However, this approach has not been extensively explored yet. Moreover, a combination of antioxidants in conjugation with a nutrient-rich diet might be more effective in tackling AD pathogenesis.
  • 723
  • 10 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Nerve Guidance Conduits
Nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) are tubular biostructures to bridge nerve injury sites via orienting axonal growth in an organized fashion as well as supplying a supportively appropriate microenvironment.
  • 478
  • 09 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Human Stem Cell Transplantation for Retinal Degenerative Diseases
Irreversible visual impairment is mainly caused by retinal degenerative diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. Stem cell research has experienced rapid progress in recent years, and researchers and clinical ophthalmologists are trying to implement this promising technology to treat retinal degeneration. There is currently no surgical or pharmacological solution to regenerate an injured or degenerative retina, and the only approach ophthalmologists can take is to slow the progress of the loss of vision. In the last decade, many efforts have been made to take advantage of the promising properties of the stem cell technology and apply them to retinal degenerative diseases.
  • 498
  • 08 Feb 2022
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