Complement therapeutics in neurodegenerative diseases

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pose considerable therapeutic challenges, not only due to their complex pathophysiology, but also because any effective drug must be capable of penetrating the brain. Inflammation is a key feature of NDDs. Increasingly, the complement system, long studied in the context of host defence, has emerged as a central player in the brain, with roles extending far beyond its classical immune functions. Complement contributes to synaptic pruning and immune surveillance, but when dysregulated, it can drive chronic inflammation, synapse loss, and neurodegeneration. Complement is also implicated in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric diseases, including schizophrenia and mood disorders, where overactivation of the cascade impacts brain maturation and circuit stability. In this review, we take a broad view of roles of the complement system in both health and disease in the central nervous system (CNS). We summarise key mechanisms through which complement contributes to pathology, discuss emerging therapeutic strategies, and consider major hurdles in CNS drug development, including brain delivery and the need for patient stratification. As our understanding of the pathological roles of the complement system in the brain advances, it is becoming clear that complement therapeutics may offer a novel approach in slowing neurodegeneration, and in addressing a broader spectrum of disorders affecting the brain.