Bernhard T Baune1. 1. Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review aims to describe the current understanding of neuroinflammation in neurodegeneration and evaluate the value of various anti-inflammatory treatments. RECENT FINDINGS: Inflammation plays important roles in common disease such as dementia and depression. Underlying mechanisms including the role of inflammasomes in these diseases have been recently described. Interventions using Ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, NSAIDs and targeted antagonists (e.g., etanercept) show no convincing clinical efficacy in inflammation-associated depression, cognitive decline and dementia. SUMMARY: Therapeutic targeting of inflammation appears to be relevant in brain conditions characterized by neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, although published anti-inflammatory interventions have shown no relevant clinical efficacy. Newly described pharmacological targets in the neuroinflammation pathways may not only offer a more profound understanding of the underlying pathophysiology but also raise hope for the development of novel pharmacological agents.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review aims to describe the current understanding of neuroinflammation in neurodegeneration and evaluate the value of various anti-inflammatory treatments. RECENT FINDINGS:Inflammation plays important roles in common disease such as dementia and depression. Underlying mechanisms including the role of inflammasomes in these diseases have been recently described. Interventions using Ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, NSAIDs and targeted antagonists (e.g., etanercept) show no convincing clinical efficacy in inflammation-associated depression, cognitive decline and dementia. SUMMARY: Therapeutic targeting of inflammation appears to be relevant in brain conditions characterized by neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, although published anti-inflammatory interventions have shown no relevant clinical efficacy. Newly described pharmacological targets in the neuroinflammation pathways may not only offer a more profound understanding of the underlying pathophysiology but also raise hope for the development of novel pharmacological agents.
Authors: D Kempuraj; R Thangavel; P A Natteru; G P Selvakumar; D Saeed; H Zahoor; S Zaheer; S S Iyer; A Zaheer Journal: J Neurol Neurosurg Spine Date: 2016-11-18