title: Neurodegenerative pathways in Parkinson's disease: therapeutic strategies.
abstract: Parkinson's disease (PD), considered one of the major neurological disorders, is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the pars compacta of the substantia nigra and by the presence of intraneuronal cytoplasmic inclusions called Lewy bodies. The causes for degeneration of PD neurons remain unclear, however, recent findings contributed to clarify this issue. This review will discuss the current understanding of the mechanisms underlying Parkinson's disease pathogenesis, focusing on the current and potential therapeutic strategies for human treatment.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal. catarina@cnc.cj.uc.pt
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: P I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Agostinho
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D004967:Estrogens; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; D004298:Dopamine