What are the primary characteristics of neurodegenerative diseases?5 answersNeurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the progressive loss of specific neuronal cells and involve major physiological processes such as proteo-toxic stress, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and neuro-inflammation. These diseases can be classified based on primary clinical features (e.g., dementia, parkinsonism), anatomic distribution of neurodegeneration, and principal molecular abnormalities like amyloidosis, tauopathies, α-synucleinopathy, and TDP-43 proteopathy. Common neurodegenerative disorders include Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, which are prevalent with aging and lack effective treatments. The pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases involves genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors, with an urgent need for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying these diseases. Additionally, marine-derived compounds like phlorotannins and bromophenols show promise in protecting against neurodegenerative disorders, hinting at potential new drug development avenues.
How do neurodegenerative diseases impact cognitive function and daily living?5 answersNeurodegenerative diseases significantly impact cognitive function and daily living. These diseases lead to memory disorders, cognitive impairments, and a progressive loss of neuronal cells, resulting in dementia. Cognitive functions affected include memory, attention, language, and thinking, necessitating a detailed neuropsychological profile for accurate diagnosis and management. Studies have shown correlations between digital biomarkers, reflecting everyday function and cognition, with neuropathological markers in aging cohorts, indicating the potential for these markers to serve as behavioral proxies for neurodegenerative processes. Early detection through techniques like MRI and deep learning approaches is crucial for efficient care and differential diagnosis of various types of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia with Lewy bodies.
What are the mechanisms behind neurodegenerative diseases?5 answersNeurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the progressive loss of cognitive and/or motor function. Recent genetic and mechanistic studies have revealed common cellular pathways involved in these diseases, including defective protein quality-control and degradation pathways, dysfunctional mitochondrial homeostasis, stress granules, and maladaptive innate immune responses. Inflammatory cytokines and tryptophan metabolites called kynurenines have been found to play a role in neurodegenerative diseases, with increases in pro-inflammatory cytokines and neurotoxic kynurenines observed in these conditions. Multiple sclerosis, a major cause of neurological disability, involves immune reactions, oxidative and nitrosative stress, mitochondrial damage, and impaired energy production, leading to progressive proteolytic degradation of cytoskeleton proteins and loss of axonal energy. The complexity of neurodegenerative diseases has made it challenging to unravel their mechanisms, but bioinformatics and modeling approaches have been developed to identify candidate mechanisms based on publicly available data and knowledge. Parkinson's disease and other parkinsonian syndromes involve the progressive dysfunction of specific populations of neurons, with neuronal loss and accumulation of misfolded proteins playing a role in their pathogenesis.
What are the molecular, cellular, and organismal mechanisms that could be involved in the transmission of neurodegenerative diseases?4 answersThe transmission of neurodegenerative diseases involves various molecular, cellular, and organismal mechanisms. One mechanism is the transfer of disease-related proteins between cells through different pathways, such as tunnelling nanotubes (TNTs) and extracellular vesicles (EVs). These proteins, including alpha-synuclein, tau, and huntingtin, can be released into the extracellular space and taken up by neighboring cells, leading to the propagation of pathology. The release of these proteins can occur in both free form and within EVs, such as ectosomes and exosomes. Internalization of these EVs by microglial, astrocytic, and neuronal cells can result in the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and alterations in neuronal activity. Additionally, cellular senescence, characterized by changes in cellular phenotypes and increased secretion of certain molecules, may contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Overall, understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing therapeutic interventions for neurodegenerative diseases.
What causes neurodegenerative disease?4 answersNeurodegenerative diseases are caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and endogenous factors. These diseases are characterized by the progressive loss of neuronal cells and the decline in central nervous system (CNS) functions. Abnormal protein dynamics, defective protein degradation, and aggregation, oxidative stress, impaired bioenergetics, mitochondrial dysfunctions, and neuroinflammatory processes are some of the key mechanisms involved in neurodegeneration. Aging is the most important risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases, and it differentially affects neuroanatomical pathways, leading to the formation of pathogenic proteins. Microglial activation, which is generally viewed as a secondary process, can contribute to neurodegeneration. Neuroglia, including microglia and astrocytes, play fundamental roles in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. Inflammatory and neurotoxic mediators released by activated microglia, astrocytes, neurons, T-cells, and mast cells mediate neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing therapeutic interventions to prevent neuronal death and delay neurodegeneration.
Which genes are associated with neurodegenerative disorders?5 answersMutations in mitochondrial genes have been associated with the development and progression of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Huntington's disease (HD), and Friedreich ataxia (FA). Additionally, gene mutations in PINK1, Parkin, and SOD1 have been linked to mitochondrial dysfunctions in neurodegenerative disorders. Furthermore, mutations in genes such as PANK2, PLA2G6, C19orf12, FA2H, ATP13A2, WDR45, COASY, FTL, CP, and DCAF17 have been associated with neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA). There are also overlapping genetic causes and risk factors between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), with genes such as SNCA, PARK2, chromosome 22q11 deletion/DiGeorge region, and FMR1 influencing the development of both disorders.