Title:A Review of the Common Neurodegenerative Disorders: Current
Therapeutic Approaches and the Potential Role of Bioactive Peptides
Volume: 25
Issue: 7
Author(s): Kuldeep Singh*, Jeetendra Kumar Gupta, Shivendra Kumar and Urvashi Soni
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, GLA University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
Keywords:
Neurodegenerative disorders, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, current therapeutic strategies, bioactive peptides, neuroprotection, neurodegeneration, treatment modalities.
Abstract: Neurodegenerative disorders, which include Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease
(PD), Huntington's disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), represent a significant
and growing global health challenge. Current therapies predominantly focus on symptom management
rather than altering disease progression. In this review, we discuss the major therapeutic
strategies in practice for these disorders, highlighting their limitations. For AD, the mainstay treatments
are cholinesterase inhibitors and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists. For
PD, dopamine replacement therapies, including levodopa, are commonly used. HD is managed primarily
with symptomatic treatments, and reusable extends survival in ALS. However, none of these
therapies halts or substantially slows the neurodegenerative process. In contrast, this review
highlights emerging research into bioactive peptides as potential therapeutic agents. These naturally
occurring or synthetically designed molecules can interact with specific cellular targets, potentially
modulating disease processes. Preclinical studies suggest that bioactive peptides may mitigate
oxidative stress, inflammation, and protein misfolding, which are common pathological features
in neurodegenerative diseases. Clinical trials using bioactive peptides for neurodegeneration
are limited but show promising initial results. For instance, hemiacetal, a γ-secretase inhibitor peptide,
has shown potential in AD by reducing amyloid-beta production, though its development was
discontinued due to side effects. Despite these advancements, many challenges remain, including
identifying optimal peptides, confirming their mechanisms of action, and overcoming obstacles related
to their delivery to the brain. Future research should prioritize the discovery and development
of novel bioactive peptides and improve our understanding of their pharmacokinetics and
pharmacodynamics. Ultimately, this approach may lead to more effective therapies for neurodegenerative
disorders, moving beyond symptom management to potentially modify the course of these
devastating diseases.