Neuroprotective Drugs: Emerging Strategies for Preventing Neurodegeneration

Abstract

Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and multiple sclerosis are major causes of disability and mortality worldwide. Progressive neuronal loss resulting from oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, protein aggregation, and apoptosis contributes significantly to the pathogenesis of these disorders. Neuroprotective drugs are therapeutic agents designed to preserve neuronal structure and function by targeting these underlying pathological mechanisms, thereby slowing disease progression and improving neurological outcomes. Current neuroprotective strategies include the use of antioxidants, glutamate receptor antagonists, calcium channel blockers, anti-inflammatory agents, mitochondrial stabilizers, neurotrophic factors, and apoptosis inhibitors. Clinically approved drugs such as memantine, riluzole, edaravone, and citicoline have demonstrated varying degrees of neuroprotection in specific neurological conditions. Recent advances in nanotechnology-based drug delivery, stem cell therapy, gene therapy, monoclonal antibodies, and artificial intelligence-assisted drug discovery have expanded the potential for developing more effective neuroprotective therapies. Future research is focused on precision medicine, biomarker-guided therapy, multi-target-directed ligands, and combination treatment strategies to improve therapeutic success. Continued advances in molecular pharmacology and translational neuroscience are expected to facilitate the development of safer and more effective neuroprotective agents. Neuroprotective pharmacotherapy represents a promising approach for reducing the burden of neurological disorders and improving patients' quality of life.