Neuroprotective Compounds??

There is a new study out that offers a ray of hope for all neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and ALS. The study was conducted by Dr. Santosh D'Mello and colleagues at the University of Texas at Dallas and Southern Methodist University and was published in Experimental Biology and Medicine. The study looked at a class of compounds, 3-substituted indolones, that are believed to protect neurons from degeneration. A previous study identified one particular 3-substituted indolone, GW5074, that proved to have neuroprotective factors in a mouse model of degeneration. The present study worked to identify several other compounds that worked even better than GW5074 and caused no cell toxicity even in high doses.

Because of this work scientists will hopefully be able to identify several compounds to synthesize and study in pre-clinical and clinical studies. With any luck one or more of these compounds will prove useful in protecting neurons from cell death. Protecting the neurons may in turn decrease the rate or stop the progression of many of these debilitating diseases, including Parkinson's.

I am sure that any human treatment with these compounds is still several years away, but any step forward towards prevention or a cure is always a great thing!