title: Antiapoptotic drugs: a therapautic strategy for the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases.
abstract: The purpose of this review is to discuss potential pathways involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, highlighting current pharmacological drug targets in neuronal apoptosis prevention. The incidence of these disorders is expected to rise in the coming years and so finding effective treatments represents a significant challenge for medicine. Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease were both described almost a century ago and are the most important neurodegenerative disorders in the developed world. However, the molecular mechanisms that lead to the development of the neuronal pathology in both diseases are unclear. For this reason, despite substantial research in the area, an effective treatment for these diseases does not yet exist. In the present study we discuss in depth the pathways involved in apoptosis and neuronal death in neurodegenerative diseases. We also examine drugs that may have a neuroprotective effect. Inhibition of apoptosis mediated by oxidative stress generation and mitochondrial alteration or by the blockade of NMDA receptors could constitute a suitable therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer's disease. A multiple therapy with antioxidants, cell cycle inhibitors, GSK3β inhibitors, and STATINS could, in the future, represent a suitable strategy for delaying the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. This research contributes to the development of new methods in the field of apoptosis inhibitors that could provide the future tools for the treatment of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, as well as other neurodegenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Farmacología, Centros de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Francesc X
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Sureda
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Junyent
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Verdaguer
authors.forename: Carme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Auladell
authors.forename: Carme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pelegri
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vilaplana
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Folch
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Canudas
authors.forename: Carlos Beas
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Zarate
authors.forename: Merc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pallès
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Camins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents