Solving neurodegeneration: common mechanisms and strategies for new treatments

• Published in: Molecular neurodegeneration Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 23 - 29
• Main Authors: Wareham, Lauren K., Liddelow, Shane A., Temple, Sally, Benowitz, Larry I., Di Polo, Adriana, Wellington, Cheryl, Goldberg, Jeffrey L., He, Zhigang, Duan, Xin, Bu, Guojun, Davis, Albert A., Shekhar, Karthik, Torre, Anna La, Chan, David C., Canto-Soler, M. Valeria, Flanagan, John G., Subramanian, Preeti, Rossi, Sharyn, Brunner, Thomas, Bovenkamp, Diane E., Calkins, David J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 21.03.2022; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Age; Alzheimer's disease; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Bioenergetics; Biomechanics; Blindness; Brain research; Care and treatment; Central nervous system; Cognitive ability; Dementia; Development and progression; Etiology; Extracellular matrix; Fatalities; Genetics; Glaucoma; Glaucoma - pathology; Health aspects; Humans; Huntington’s Disease; Inflammation; Metabolism; Nervous system; Nervous system diseases; Neurodegeneration; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neurodegenerative Diseases - pathology; Neurodegenerative Diseases - therapy; Neurons; Neuroprotection; Optic nerve; Optic Nerve - pathology; Parkinson's disease; Pathogenesis; Pathophysiology; Protection and preservation; Proteins; Regeneration; Review; Therapeutic targets; Glaucoma; Model Systems; Biomarker; Huntington’s Disease; Alzheimer’s Disease; Neuro-regeneration; Neuro-replacement; Organoids; Neurodegeneration; Imaging; Cell-replacement; Genetics; Parkinson’s Disease; Detection; Glia; Metabolic stress; Neurovascular coupling
• ISSN: 1750-1326; 1750-1326
• DOI: 10.1186/s13024-022-00524-0

Across neurodegenerative diseases, common mechanisms may reveal novel therapeutic targets based on neuronal protection, repair, or regeneration, independent of etiology or site of disease pathology. To address these mechanisms and discuss emerging treatments, in April, 2021, Glaucoma Research Foundation, BrightFocus Foundation, and the Melza M. and Frank Theodore Barr Foundation collaborated to bring together key opinion leaders and experts in the field of neurodegenerative disease for a virtual meeting titled “Solving Neurodegeneration”. This “think-tank” style meeting focused on uncovering common mechanistic roots of neurodegenerative disease and promising targets for new treatments, catalyzed by the goal of finding new treatments for glaucoma, the world’s leading cause of irreversible blindness and the common interest of the three hosting foundations. Glaucoma, which causes vision loss through degeneration of the optic nerve, likely shares early cellular and molecular events with other neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system. Here we discuss major areas of mechanistic overlap between neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system: neuroinflammation, bioenergetics and metabolism, genetic contributions, and neurovascular interactions. We summarize important discussion points with emphasis on the research areas that are most innovative and promising in the treatment of neurodegeneration yet require further development. The research that is highlighted provides unique opportunities for collaboration that will lead to efforts in preventing neurodegeneration and ultimately vision loss.