Biologic Therapies for Alleviating Neurodegeneration in Lysosomal Storage Diseases

Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) are a group of rare inherited metabolic disorders characterized by lysosomal dysfunction and progressive accumulation of undegraded substrates, leading to multisystem involvement and, in many cases, severe neurodegeneration. Because the blood-brain barrier (BBB) restricts central nervous system (CNS) access for most therapeutic modalities, neurological manifestations remain the major unmet need across LSDs. In this review, we summarize current and emerging strategies aimed at correcting CNS pathology, including enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene therapy, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and autologous HSCT with gene-modified hematopoietic stem cells. While ERT provides limited CNS benefits and allogeneic HSCT mitigates neurodegeneration only partially, their overall impact on CNS outcomes remains restricted. Newer approaches, such as BBB-shuttling ERTs, CNS-tropic AAV capsids, and genetically modified autologous hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells capable of sustained supraphysiological enzyme production, offer promising avenues for enhanced CNS delivery and cross-correction. Together, these advances underscore a shift toward integrated therapeutic strategies that combine systemic and CNS-directed interventions, with the potential to transform outcomes for patients with LSDs and other neurodegenerative disorders amenable to cross-correction.