Current Alzheimer Research

Author(s): Cornelis J. Van der Schyf, Silvia Mandel, Werner J. Geldenhuys, Tamar Amit, Yael Avramovich, Hailin Zheng, Mati Fridkin, Shunit Gal, Orly Weinreb, Orit Bar Am, Yotam Sagi and Moussa B.H. Youdim

DOI: 10.2174/156720507783018226

Novel Multifunctional Anti-Alzheimer Drugs with Various CNS Neurotransmitter Targets and Neuroprotective Moieties

Page: [522 - 536] Pages: 15

  • * (Excluding Mailing and Handling)

Abstract

Traditionally, drug design programs are focused on optimizing the specificity of lead compounds against a carefully selected drug target. Disappointingly, this approach to discover a “magic bullet” drug has not met with the expected success for CNS disorders. Transcriptomics and proteomic profiling of neurodegenerative diseases have indicated that they are poly-etiological in origin and that the processes leading to neuronal death are multifactorial. An emerging concept is the design of drug ligands that modulate multiple drug targets identified for a particular disease. In this review we explore some examples of multifunctional drugs which may be useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease.

Keywords: NMDA receptor, Deferoxamine, reactive oxygen species, MAO-B inhibitor, Neuronal nitric oxide