Neuroprotective therapies.
Though effective symptomatic therapies for Parkinson's disease exist, currently no treatment is proven to slow the progression of the underlying disease. Our growing understanding of the mechanisms of neuronal models, however, offers hope that neuroprotective strategies will soon be a standard part of the treatment of PD. Current approaches to the development of neuroprotective strategies are based on the hypothesized roles of oxidative stress and excitotoxicity in the degenerative process. In this article, we review evidence in support of these hypotheses as well as attempts to achieve neuroprotection in PD based on these and other mechanisms.
Simon
D K
DK
Neurology Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA.
Standaert
D G
DG
D000818:Animals; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000378:metabolism
D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents