Autophagy–exosome crosstalk in neurodegeneration: Mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities

Neurodegenerative diseases share a common pathogenic signature characterized by disrupted protein management and communication.

• Disrupted proteostasis in neurodegenerative diseases is driven by impaired autophagy and altered exosome dynamics.
• Autophagy normally clears misfolded proteins and damaged organelles, maintaining neuronal health.
• When autophagy is compromised, undegraded proteins can accumulate and be secreted in exosomes, potentially spreading pathology.
• This dysregulation may lead to increased neuroinflammation, demyelination, and neuronal loss.
• Pharmacological strategies to restore the autophagy-exosome axis include agents like rapamycin and resveratrol, which enhance autophagic function.
• Emerging AI and machine learning techniques could facilitate earlier diagnosis and therapy optimization by analyzing complex biological datasets.

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