PHARMACOLOGICAL INTERVENSTION IN NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE

Shital Jadhav*, Mayur Pachunde, Dr. Gajanan S. Sanap

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, represent a group of disorders characterized by progressive neuronal loss and cognitive or motor dysfunction. Pharmacological interventions in NDDs aim to mitigate disease progression, alleviate symptoms, and improve quality of life. Current treatments are primarily symptomatic, with limited success in altering disease trajectory. In Alzheimer's disease, cholinesterase inhibitors (e.g., donepezil, rivastigmine) and glutamate regulators (e.g., memantine) offer modest cognitive improvements, while recent advances in disease-modifying agents, such as anti-amyloid antibodies (e.g., aducanumab), are being explored. In Parkinson's disease, dopaminergic therapies, such as levodopa and dopamine agonists, provide symptomatic relief, though motor complications, such as dyskinesia, are common over time. Newer approaches, including gene therapy and the use of neuroprotective agents (e.g., rasagiline, safinamide), aim to slow progression. In Huntington's disease, pharmacological options are more limited, with drugs like tetrabenazine addressing hyperkinetic movements but without effects on disease progression. In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, riluzole and edaravone offer modest survival benefits, but there remains a significant need for more effective treatments. In parallel, the exploration of novel targets, including neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and protein aggregation, is opening new avenues for pharmacological intervention. Despite progress, the challenge remains to identify disease-modifying therapies that address the underlying pathophysiology and provide long-term benefits. Continued research into the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration is essential for developing more effective treatments for these devastating disorders.