Mechanics meets neurology: Mechanobiomaterial studies on brain diseases and neuromodulation

Abstract

Mechanics has long served as a cornerstone of science and engineering, providing essential theoretical foundations for technological advancement. As global populations age, neurodegenerative diseases and neurological disorders—now surpassing cardiovascular diseases—have become the leading contributors to global health burdens, posing urgent societal and economic challenges. This perspective article outlines a research framework for neurodegenerative diseases, with Parkinson's disease (PD) as a representative example, through the lens of the mechanobiomaterials paradigm. Rooted in core principles of mechanics, this paradigm explores mechanics–geometry–function relationships across molecular to organ scales. While PD is clinically diagnosed by motor symptoms and treated symptomatically, its underlying pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Neuromodulation techniques have shown therapeutic promise for PD and related conditions, yet their mechanisms of action are still unclear. We highlight how integrating mechanics, materials science, and biomedical research can help address two critical gaps: (1) the role of protein misfolding, especially α-synuclein aggregation, in disease initiation, and (2) the correlation between brain tissue mechanics and disease progression. By framing these challenges within a mechanobiomaterials context, we propose a path toward deeper mechanistic insights into brain disorders and neuromodulation—opening new frontiers for both neuroscience and mechanics.