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Volume 30
Issue 19
10.3390/molecules30194028
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Review

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Neurodegenerative Diseases (NDDs): Diagnostic Potential and Analytical Approaches

by
Jolanda Palmisani
1,
Antonella Maria Aresta
1,*,
Viviana Vergaro
2,*,
Giovanna Mancini
1,
Miriana Cosma Mazzola
1,
Marirosa Rosaria Nisi
1,
Lucia Pastore
1,
Valentina Pizzillo
1,
Nicoletta De Vietro
1,
Chiara Boncristiani
2,
Giuseppe Ciccarella
3,
Carlo Zambonin
1,
Gianluigi de Gennaro
1 and
Alessia Di Gilio
1
1
Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari, Via Edoardo Orabona, 70125 Bari, Italy
2
Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Salento c/o College Isufi, Centro Ecoteckne, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
3
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Molecules 2025, 30(19), 4028; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30194028 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 1 August 2025 / Revised: 30 September 2025 / Accepted: 3 October 2025 / Published: 9 October 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exclusive Feature Papers in Analytical Chemistry)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are a group of progressive diseases affecting neuronal cells in specific areas of the brain, causing cognitive decline and movement impairment. Nowadays, NDDs play a significant role in the global burden of disease, and their incidence is increasing, particularly due to population aging. NDD onset is multi-factorial; based on the current knowledge, genetic, environmental, and cellular factors are believed to contribute to their occurrence and progression. Taking into account that at an early stage, the symptoms are not clearly defined, and diagnosis may be delayed, the development of innovative and non-invasive methodological approaches for early diagnosis of NDDs is strategic for timely and tailored disease management, as well as for the overall improvement of patients’ quality of life. The present review aims to provide, in the first part, an overview based on the current level of knowledge on the environmental risk factors that can explicate a role in the onset of the most common NDDs and on the main pathogenic mechanisms involved in disease initiation and progression. The second part aims to define the current state of the art regarding the significance of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in the volatome of different human biological matrices (exhaled breath, feces, and skin sebum) as candidate biomarkers of specific NDDs, with the aim of developing non-invasive diagnostic approaches for the early diagnosis and personalized management of the patients. A critical synthesis and discussion on the applied methodological approaches and on the relevant outcomes obtained across the studies is reported.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Parkinson’s disease; neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs); environmental risk factors; volatile organic compounds (VOCs); early-diagnosis approaches; biomarkers Alzheimer’s disease; Parkinson’s disease; neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs); environmental risk factors; volatile organic compounds (VOCs); early-diagnosis approaches; biomarkers

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Palmisani, J.; Aresta, A.M.; Vergaro, V.; Mancini, G.; Mazzola, M.C.; Nisi, M.R.; Pastore, L.; Pizzillo, V.; De Vietro, N.; Boncristiani, C.; et al. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Neurodegenerative Diseases (NDDs): Diagnostic Potential and Analytical Approaches. Molecules 2025, 30, 4028. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30194028

AMA Style

Palmisani J, Aresta AM, Vergaro V, Mancini G, Mazzola MC, Nisi MR, Pastore L, Pizzillo V, De Vietro N, Boncristiani C, et al. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Neurodegenerative Diseases (NDDs): Diagnostic Potential and Analytical Approaches. Molecules. 2025; 30(19):4028. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30194028

Chicago/Turabian Style

Palmisani, Jolanda, Antonella Maria Aresta, Viviana Vergaro, Giovanna Mancini, Miriana Cosma Mazzola, Marirosa Rosaria Nisi, Lucia Pastore, Valentina Pizzillo, Nicoletta De Vietro, Chiara Boncristiani, and et al. 2025. "Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Neurodegenerative Diseases (NDDs): Diagnostic Potential and Analytical Approaches" Molecules 30, no. 19: 4028. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30194028

APA Style

Palmisani, J., Aresta, A. M., Vergaro, V., Mancini, G., Mazzola, M. C., Nisi, M. R., Pastore, L., Pizzillo, V., De Vietro, N., Boncristiani, C., Ciccarella, G., Zambonin, C., de Gennaro, G., & Di Gilio, A. (2025). Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Neurodegenerative Diseases (NDDs): Diagnostic Potential and Analytical Approaches. Molecules, 30(19), 4028. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30194028

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