Physiological association between free radicals and neurodegenerative conditions
basis for a new treatment?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34024/rnc.2001.v9.8922Keywords:
Free radicals, neurodegeneration, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease, Down's syndrome, schizophreniaAbstract
A free radical is defined as any compound able to exist independently, which contains one or more unpaired electrons. Free radical reactions have been implicated in the pathology of several diseases as a causal factor and/or as a consequence. Radicals and other reactive oxygen compounds are constantly being formed in the human body as a result of regular synthesis and chemical side-reactions. Enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant defense systems are responsible for their elimination. Oxidative stress, which occurs when antioxidant defenses are inadequate, can damage lipids, proteins, carbohydrates and DNA. A few clinical conditions are a result of oxidative stress, but more often this stress comes up with a disease. Sometimes the oxidative stress makes a significant contribution to the disease pathology. Today it’s believed that several pathologies are directly related to free radicals activity. Neurodegenerative diseases are strictly related to their activity. Alzheimer disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/ motor neuron disease, Down’s syndrome, schizophrenia as well as other degenerative conditions, such as basal ganglia degeneration, multiple systemic atrophy and progressive supranuclear degeneration, are linked to free radicals activity and strongly associated as a causal factor. A better understanding of free radicals and their actions could be a basis for a potential new drug therapy
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