Small Molecule Drug Discovery and Development to Face Neurodegenerative Threads

Dear Colleagues,

According to recent studies, neurodegenerative diseases are one of the main causes of disability and death worldwide. They are characterized by age-dependent neuronal depletion in the central nervous system and are often accompanied by the accumulation of misfolded proteins, oxidative stress induction, and neuroinflammation. The most common neurodegenerative disorders are Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Unfortunately, due to the undefined pathogenesis and the multifaceted nature of neurodegenerative disorders, most pharmacological treatments are mainly symptomatic rather than disease-modifier. Moreover, different side effects are observed, often including sedation, dizziness, and nausea. Despite all the research efforts, the identification of new drugs more potent and with safer profiles is an unmet need.

This Special Issue on “Small molecule drug discovery and development to face neurodegenerative threads” aims to collect both original research articles and reviews on recent advances in the identification of synthetic, semi-synthetic, or naturally occurring small molecules as potential drug candidates to alleviate brain cell damage.

Dr. Maria Maddalena Cavalluzzi
Dr. Giovanni Lentini
Guest Editors

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