Oxidative Stress in Neurodegenerative Diseases: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Applications

Abstract

Increasing numbers of individuals, particularly the elderly, suffer from neurodegenerative disorders. These diseases are normally characterized by progressive loss of neuron cells and compromised motor or cognitive function. Previous studies have proposed that the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) may have complex roles in promoting the disease development. Research has shown that neuron cells are particularly vulnerable to oxidative damage due to their high polyunsaturated fatty acid content in membranes, high oxygen consumption, and weak antioxidant defense. However, the exact molecular pathogenesis of neurodegeneration related to the disturbance of redox balance remains unclear. Novel antioxidants have shown great potential in mediating disease phenotypes and could be an area of interest for further research. In this review, we provide an updated discussion on the roles of ROS in the pathological mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and spinocerebellar ataxia, as well as a highlight on the antioxidant-based therapies for alleviating disease severity.

Figure 1

Schematic illustrating the key roles of OS in the development of AD, HD, PD, ALS, and SCA. AD: Alzheimer's disease; ALS: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Aβ: amyloid beta; BAD: Bcl-2-associated death promoter; CaN: calcineurin; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; HD: Huntington's disease; JNK: c-Jun N-terminal kinase; MAPK: mitogen-activated protein kinase; NFT: neurofibrillary tangle; OS: oxidative stress; PD: Parkinson's disease; SCA: spinocerebellar ataxia; SOD: superoxide dismutase.