Ischemic Genetic Pathology in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

The proper functioning of the brain depends to a large extent on the supply of oxygen and nutrients. Their deficiency or lack, e.g., due to focal or global cerebral ischemia, can lead to the death of neuronal cells and neurodegeneration. Cerebral ischemia significantly affects various cellular functions, starting from the immediate response to the lipid composition of the cell membrane, changes in enzyme activity, and mitochondrial remodeling, which in turn results in proteomic and genomic changes. Similar effects are caused by perinatal asphyxia, which has a significant impact on brain development and function, increasing the risk of developing various neurological pathologies later in life. The worst consequence of perinatal asphyxia is the aforementioned neurodegenerative brain injury with various cognitive impairments, also known as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. There is increasing evidence that the pathology induced in neonatal brains during and after perinatal hypoxia and in adult ischemic stroke is almost identical to the pathology occurring in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Brain ischemia and Alzheimer's disease share several common vascular risk factors. The pathophysiology of these diseases and whether one precedes the other is a topic of ongoing research. In this Special Issue, we would like to learn about each common pathway and the mechanisms of both neurodegenerative diseases. We would like to draw attention to the basic mechanisms of neurodegeneration and secondary cascades. Furthermore, the concept of early targeting of secondary mechanisms may be a viable treatment option. This Special Issue is intended to serve as a catalyst for further research into this important topic. Thanks to the involvement of scientists in this Special Issue, new different mechanisms/hypotheses of neurodegenerative diseases can be presented and discussed. This will allow us to better understand in the future which therapies may be most effective at specific points, such as on the Alzheimer's disease continuum. It is my hope that each article on this topic will both inform and generate further interest in the mechanisms explaining the development of dementia post-asphyxia, after ischemic stroke and Alzheimer's disease.

Prof. Dr. Ryszard Pluta
Guest Editor

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