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The Impact of Mitochondria on Neurodegenerative Diseases
- 1 School of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) include Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington's disease (HD), which are defined by the progressive deterioration of neurons in the central nervous system and functional decline. The pathogenesis of these diseases is complex and there is currently no effective treatment. For example, the failure rate of clinical trials for AD treatment strategies is as high as 99.5%. Research indicates that elements such mitochondrial malfunction, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, inflammation, and apoptosis are closely related to the onset of NDDs, especially mitochondrial dysfunction, which is considered to be one of the core mechanisms of NDDs. Mitochondria are not only the main production site of ATP, but also participate in key processes such as metabolite synthesis and reactive oxygen generation. Due to the high energy demand of brain neurons and their high dependence on mitochondrial function, abnormal mitochondrial function may lead to serious neuronal structural and functional disorders. In addition, neurons also need to maintain local activities such as synaptic transmission and axonal transport through the precise transport and distribution of mitochondria. Therefore, abnormalities in mitochondrial dynamics and function may become early characteristics and potential pathogenic factors of NDDs. By reviewing the mechanism of mitochondrial abnormalities in AD, PD, and HD and their potential therapeutic strategies.This article seeks to investigate mitochondria as a prospective target for the prevention, early detection, and treatment of NDD
Keywords
Neurodegenerative Disease, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease
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Cite this article
Liu,R. (2025). The Impact of Mitochondria on Neurodegenerative Diseases. Theoretical and Natural Science,90,61-67.
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The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.
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Volume title: Proceedings of ICMMGH 2025 Workshop: Computational Modelling in Biology and Medicine
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