Calcium signaling and neurodegenerative diseases

I Bezprozvanny - Trends in molecular medicine, 2009 - cell.com
Trends in molecular medicine, 2009cell.com
Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD),
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease (HD) and spinocerebellar ataxias
(SCAs), present an enormous medical, social, financial and scientific problem. Recent
evidence indicates that neuronal calcium (Ca 2+) signaling is abnormal in many of these
disorders. Similar, but less severe, changes in neuronal Ca 2+ signaling occur as a result of
the normal aging process. The role of aberrant neuronal Ca 2+ signaling in the …
Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease (HD) and spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs), present an enormous medical, social, financial and scientific problem. Recent evidence indicates that neuronal calcium (Ca2+) signaling is abnormal in many of these disorders. Similar, but less severe, changes in neuronal Ca2+ signaling occur as a result of the normal aging process. The role of aberrant neuronal Ca2+ signaling in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders is discussed here. The potential utility of Ca2+ blockers for treatment of these disorders is also highlighted. It is reasoned that Ca2+ blockers will be most beneficial clinically when used in combination with other disease-specific therapeutic approaches.
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