A major new study released by The Lancet Neurology shows that, in 2021, more than 3 billion people worldwide were living with a neurological condition. The World Health Organization (WHO) contributed to the analysis of the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study (GBD) 2021 data.
Neurological disorders are the leading cause of physical and cognitive disability across the globe, currently affecting approximately 15% of the worldwide population 1. Absolute patient numbers have considerably climbed over the past 30 years.
Conditions Alzheimer's disease and other memory disorders. Ataxia. Huntington's disease. Parkinson's disease. Motor neuron disease. Multiple system atrophy. Progressive supranuclear palsy.
Currently available therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. While there is no definitive cure for most neurodegenerative diseases, there are various therapies and interventions available to help manage symptoms, slow disease progression, and improve the quality of life for individuals affected by these conditions.
Pharmacological Treatments: Medications are often prescribed to manage symptoms associated with neurodegenerative diseases. For example, levodopa is commonly used in Parkinson's disease to replenish dopamine levels and alleviate motor symptoms.
In May 2023, pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly & Company (Lilly) released the positive initial results of a clinical trial into a new Alzheimer's drug, donanemab. Kisunla is the brand name for donanemab, you may also hear it by this name.
In spite of their diverse clinical manifestations, neurodegenerative diseases share common features and mechanisms, such as abnormal protein misfolding and aggregation, oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunctions, impaired Ca2+ homeostasis, excitotoxicity, and apoptosis 2,3,4,5.
Amantadine (SYMMETREL) Apomorphine (APOKYN) Baclofen (LIORESAL) Carbidopa (LODOSYN) Carbidopa/levodopa (SINEMET, ATAMET, others; orally disintegrating tablet, PARCOPA) Dantrolene (DANTRIUM) Donepezil (ARICEPT) Entacapone (COMTAN; fixed combination with carbidopa/levodopa, STAVELO)
Some proposed biomarkers and drug targets are TREM2, GFAP, MCP-1, MAPK1, VEGFR1, and FGFR1. Targeting these molecules is predicted to reduce neuroinflammation, improve blood-brain barrier functions, and prevent neurodegeneration.
Research has shown that lifestyle factors such as diet, sleep, and exercise, along with educational pursuits, can be beneficial in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases.