Title:Clinical Benefits of Therapeutic Interventions Targeting Mitochondria in
Parkinson’s Disease Patients
Volume: 23
Issue: 5
Author(s): Matteo Ciocca*Chiara Pizzamiglio
Affiliation:
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
Keywords:
Parkinson’s disease, treatment, mitochondria, supplements, neuroprotection, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction.
Abstract: Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. Mitochondrial
dysfunction has been associated with neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease, and several treatments
targeting mitochondria have been tested in these patients to delay disease progression and tackle disease
symptoms. Herein, we review available data from randomised, double-blind clinical studies that
have investigated the role of compounds targeting mitochondria in idiopathic Parkinson’s disease patients,
with a view of providing patients and clinicians with a comprehensive and practical paper that
can inform therapeutic interventions in this group of people. A total of 9 compounds have been tested
in randomized clinical trials, but only exenatide has shown some promising neuroprotective and symptomatic
effects. However, whether this evidence can be translated into daily clinical practice still needs to
be confirmed. In conclusion, targeting mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease is a promising
therapeutic approach, although only one compound has shown a positive effect on Parkinson’s disease
progression and symptoms. New compounds have been investigated in animal models, and their efficacy
needs to be confirmed in humans through robust, randomised, double-blind clinical trials.
