Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Oxidative Damage in Neurodegenerative Diseases

This book is about the role of both defects in oxidative phosphorylation and oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. It describes the relationship between impaired energy metabolism, excytotoxicity and the generation of free radicals. The role of mitochondrial dysfunction in normal aging, and its potential role in the delayed onset of neurodegenerative diseases as well as the result of animal studies using mitochondrial toxins such as MPTP and 3-nitropropionic acid are described. The evidence for both dysfunction and oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are critically reviewed. Lastly, five different therapeutic approaches to treatment of neurodegenerative diseases are discussed.