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Pharmacoepigenomic Interventions as Novel Potential Treatments for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases
Oscar Teijido1, Ramón Cacabelos2,3
1EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, Institute of Medical Science and Genomic Medicine, 15165 La Coruña, Spain. epigenetica@euroespes.com.
Abstract:
Cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative disorders affect one billion people around the world and result from a combination of genomic, epigenomic, metabolic, and environmental factors. Diagnosis at late stages of disease progression, limited knowledge of gene biomarkers and molecular mechanisms of the pathology, and conventional compounds based on symptomatic rather than mechanistic features, determine the lack of success of current treatments, including current FDA-approved conventional drugs. The epigenetic approach opens new avenues for the detection of early presymptomatic pathological events that would allow the implementation of novel strategies in order to stop or delay the pathological process. The reversibility and potential restoring of epigenetic aberrations along with their potential use as targets for pharmacological and dietary interventions sited the use of epidrugs as potential novel candidates for successful treatments of multifactorial disorders involving neurodegeneration. This manuscript includes a description of the most relevant epigenetic mechanisms involved in the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders worldwide, as well as the main potential epigenetic-based compounds under investigation for treatment of those disorders and their limitations.
Insights
Epigenetic approaches offer new hope for treating neurodegenerative disorders by targeting early disease events. Exploring epigenetic mechanisms and epidrugs may lead to novel, effective treatments for these widespread conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative disorders impact one billion people globally, stemming from complex genetic, epigenetic, metabolic, and environmental interactions.
- Current treatments are often unsuccessful due to late-stage diagnosis, insufficient understanding of biomarkers and molecular mechanisms, and symptomatic rather than mechanistic drug targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of epigenetic modifications as early diagnostic markers for neurodegenerative diseases.
- To investigate epigenetic-based compounds (epidrugs) as novel therapeutic strategies for multifactorial neurodegenerative disorders.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on epigenetic mechanisms in prevalent neurodegenerative disorders.
- Analysis of potential epigenetic-based compounds and their therapeutic applications.
- Discussion of the limitations of current and emerging epigenetic treatments.
Main Results:
- Epigenetic mechanisms play a significant role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.
- The reversibility of epigenetic aberrations presents opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
- Several epidrugs are under investigation, showing promise for treating these complex disorders.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetic strategies offer a promising avenue for early detection and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
- Epidrugs represent a novel therapeutic class with the potential to address the underlying mechanisms of these diseases.
- Further research is needed to overcome limitations and fully realize the therapeutic potential of epigenetic interventions.