Old drugs as new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2018

Authors

Durães, F (Author) Other; Pinto, M (Author) Other; Emilia Sousa (Author) FFUP

Journal

Title: Pharmaceuticals

Vol. 11

Final page: 44

ISSN: 1424-8247

Publisher: MDPI

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 104 Citations

Scopus - 112 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00R-S8S

DOI: 10.3390/ph11020044

Abstract (EN): Neurodegenerative diseases are increasing in number, given that the general global population is becoming older. They manifest themselves through mechanisms that are not fully understood, in many cases, and impair memory, cognition and movement. Currently, no neurodegenerative disease is curable, and the treatments available only manage the symptoms or halt the progression of the disease. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new treatments for this kind of disease, since the World Health Organization has predicted that neurodegenerative diseases affecting motor function will become the second-most prevalent cause of death in the next 20 years. New therapies can come from three main sources: synthesis, natural products, and existing drugs. This last source is known as drug repurposing, which is the most advantageous, since the drug¿s pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles are already established, and the investment put into this strategy is not as significant as for the classic development of new drugs. There have been several studies on the potential of old drugs for the most relevant neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer¿s disease, Parkinson¿s disease, Huntington¿s disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. © 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 21