Affiliations: Department of Neuroscience, Clinical Neurology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Correspondence:
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Correspondence to: Gabriele Siciliano, MD, PhD, Department of Neuroscience, Clinical Neurology, University of Pisa, via Roma 67, 56126 Pisa, Italy. Tel.: +39 050 993046; Fax: +39 050 554808; E-mail: gsicilia@neuro.med.unipi.it.
Abstract: Oxidative stress is a metabolic condition arising from imbalance between the production of potentially reactive oxygen species and the scavenging activities. Mitochondria are the main providers but also the main scavengers of cell oxidative stress. The role of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases is well documented. Therefore, therapeutic approaches targeting mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage hold great promise in neurodegenerative diseases. Despite this evidence, human experience with antioxidant neuroprotectants has generally been negative with regards to the clinical progress of disease, with unclear results in biochemical assays. Here we review the antioxidant approaches performed so far in neurodegenerative diseases and the future challenges in modern medicine.
