Circadian rhythm alterations affecting the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Huntington's disease (HD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS), spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), and multiple-system atrophy (MSA) dysregulate clock genes, which leads to sleep disturbances and can also exacerbate these diseases. In PD, the decrease in clock genes leads to oxidative stress. In AD, this disturbance leads to an increase in tau phosphorylation. In HD, it intensifies the accumulation of mutant huntingtin, and in MSA, it impairs dopaminergic signaling. These alterations act as a feedback loop, exacerbating neurodegenerative diseases. AbstractThe circadian rhythm is a nearly 24-h oscillation found in various physiological processes in the human brain and body that is regulated by environmental and genetic factors. It is responsible for maintaining body homeostasis and it is critical for essential functions, such as metabolic regulation and memory consolidation. Dysregulation in the circadian rhythm can negatively impact human health, resulting in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, psychiatric disorders, and premature death. Emerging evidence points to a relationship between the dysregulation circadian rhythm and neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting that the alterations in circadian function might play crucial roles in the pathogenesis and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Better understanding this association is of paramount importance to exp...
Source: Journal of Neurochemistry - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tags: REVIEW Source Type: research