Description: Parkinson's disease (PD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a relatively selective degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, a loss of striatal dopamine, and intracellular inclusions. Current treatment consists of a dopamine replacement strategy, primarily using the dopamine precursor levodopa. However the majority of patients experience intolerable drug-related side effects, an unacceptable level of disability, and an increased mortality rate. Accordingly, there has been intense interest in the development of a 'neuroprotective therapy' that can prevent neuronal degeneration and slow or stop disease progression. It is likely that a cascade of events involving free radicals and oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction with a bioenergetic impairment, excitotoxicity, and a rise in intracytoplasmic free calcium with activation of biodestructive enzymes contributes to the neurodegenerative process. There is also interest in the role of apoptotic cell death in neurodegeneration and the possibility that some small molecules can provide neuroprotection or neuronal rescue by upregulating cellular defenses through the induction of translational changes and new protein synthesis. This is the first book to comprehensive review the factors implicated in the pathogenesis of cell death in PD. Each chapter of this book examines a different factor and considers the evidence supporting its participation in the neurodegenerative process and specific strategies based on this mechanism that might lead to neuroprotection.

Please Wait