3 April 2024 | Paras Mani Giri, Anurag Banerjee, Arpita Ghosal and Buddhadev Layek
Neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) are a group of illnesses characterized by the gradual degradation of neurons, leading to cognitive and motor dysfunction. Common NDs include Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Neuroinflammation is a significant factor in the progression of all NDs, often initiating and exacerbating neuronal damage. Anti-inflammatory agents have shown promise in preclinical studies, but clinical outcomes are often less favorable. This review discusses the current treatment strategies for various NDs, the role of neuroinflammation in their pathophysiology, and the potential of anti-inflammatory agents as therapeutic options. While cholinesterase inhibitors, NMDA receptor antagonists, and antipsychotics are used for AD, dopamine precursors, agonists, and monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors are employed for PD. ALS treatment focuses on symptom management with drugs like riluzole and edaravone. For HD, tetrabenazine and deutetetrabenazine are used to reduce chorea, while antipsychotics and antidepressants address behavioral and cognitive symptoms. Preclinical studies suggest that anti-inflammatory agents like ibuprofen, ursolic acid, and minocycline may have neuroprotective effects in NDs, but clinical trials have shown mixed results. The dynamic and complex nature of neuroinflammation in NDs necessitates a multimodal approach, targeting specific inflammatory pathways based on the type and stage of the disease. Cell-based therapies, such as neural stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells, are also emerging as promising alternatives.Neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) are a group of illnesses characterized by the gradual degradation of neurons, leading to cognitive and motor dysfunction. Common NDs include Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Neuroinflammation is a significant factor in the progression of all NDs, often initiating and exacerbating neuronal damage. Anti-inflammatory agents have shown promise in preclinical studies, but clinical outcomes are often less favorable. This review discusses the current treatment strategies for various NDs, the role of neuroinflammation in their pathophysiology, and the potential of anti-inflammatory agents as therapeutic options. While cholinesterase inhibitors, NMDA receptor antagonists, and antipsychotics are used for AD, dopamine precursors, agonists, and monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors are employed for PD. ALS treatment focuses on symptom management with drugs like riluzole and edaravone. For HD, tetrabenazine and deutetetrabenazine are used to reduce chorea, while antipsychotics and antidepressants address behavioral and cognitive symptoms. Preclinical studies suggest that anti-inflammatory agents like ibuprofen, ursolic acid, and minocycline may have neuroprotective effects in NDs, but clinical trials have shown mixed results. The dynamic and complex nature of neuroinflammation in NDs necessitates a multimodal approach, targeting specific inflammatory pathways based on the type and stage of the disease. Cell-based therapies, such as neural stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells, are also emerging as promising alternatives.