Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry

Brain changes and coping strategies in neurodegenerative diseases, and possible treatments

Updated

Abstract

Neuroadaptation is associated with the brain's ability to restructure in response to damage in neurodegenerative diseases.

  • Progressive neuronal loss contributes to cognitive and motor impairment in diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, and ALS.
  • Neuroadaptation mechanisms include brain cell changes, formation of new neurons, and adjustments in communication between nerve cells.
  • Processes such as axonal sprouting and changes in neurotransmitter systems can initially aid in disease progression but may become maladaptive.
  • In Alzheimer's disease, synaptic changes linked to amyloid and tau pathology highlight the brain's compensatory reconfiguration.
  • Parkinson's disease involves significant changes in the basal ganglia due to dopamine depletion, with other systems compensating.
  • Factors like oxidative stress and neuroinflammation may limit neuroadaptation, especially in older individuals.

Simplified

Full Text

Full text is available at the source.

Funding

Competing interests

Declaration of competing interest None.
PubMed

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