Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 15, Issue 10, 2015

Parkinson&aposs disease (PD) is t he second most common form of neurodegenerative disorders that results from the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) triggering profound motor perturbation, as well as cognitive, sensory and mood deficits. Although these symptoms can be improved using currently available dopamine replacement strategies, they are not Read More

Mutations in the gene for leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) have been linked to several familial and sporadic late-onset cases of Parkinson’s disease. The cumulative data for the effects of mutant forms of this enzyme on neuronal degradation and the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease create a compelling case for drug discovery based on inhibition of the mutant forms of LRRK2. This review focuses on structure- Read More

Sialorrhea or excessive drooling is a significant medical issue in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and neurodegenerative disorders, although it is often underreported by patients. Sialorrhea affects a large proportion of PD patients, ranging up to 78% in advanced stages, with many PD patients considering drooling as their worst non-motor symptom. Sialorrhea affects up to a million patients with diverse neurological impairment Read More

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease affecting more than a million people in the USA alone. While there are effective symptomatic treatments for PD, there is an urgent need for new therapies that slow or halt the progressive death of dopaminergic neurons. Significant progress has been made in understanding the pathophysiology of PD, which has substantially facilitated the discovery efforts Read More