Ashtyn Phillippi

and 5 more

Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and Huntington's share common underlying mechanisms driving progressive neuronal dysfunction and death. Key pathological features include protein aggregation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation. In Parkinson's disease, disruption of cellular homeostasis results from alpha-synuclein aggregation, whereas Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is characterized by TDP-43 and superoxide dismutase 1 aggregates leading to motor neuron degeneration. Alzheimer's disease exhibits beta-amyloid plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau-related neurofibrillary tangles, impairing synaptic function and causing cognitive decline. Huntington's disease involves CAG repeat expansion in the HTT gene, causing mutant huntingtin protein aggregation and neuronal toxicity. Current therapeutic approaches provide symptomatic relief rather than targeting underlying disease mechanisms directly to potentially halt neuropathological progression or achieve neurorestoration. However, emerging therapies aim to intervene at these mechanistic levels. For example, in Parkinson's disease, treatments involving alpha-synuclein antibodies and small molecule inhibitors aim to mitigate protein aggregation. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis therapies focus on reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, while Alzheimer's treatments aim to clear beta-amyloid plaques and tau tangles. Potential therapies for Huntington's disease include gene silencing and antisense oligonucleotides to reduce mutant huntingtin protein levels. Future directions include advancing personalized medicine approaches tailored to individual genetic and molecular profiles, alongside combination therapies targeting multiple pathological processes concurrently. Enhanced understanding of these shared mechanisms holds promise for developing effective disease-modifying treatments. Efforts towards neuroprotection and neurorestoration aim to not only alleviate symptoms but also slow or halt disease progression, offering hope for improved outcomes and quality of life for patients.