NeuroSci最新文献

{"title":"Parkinson's Disease: Pathophysiology, Treatment Strategies, Wellness Approaches, and Obstacles/Paths Forward.","authors":"Frank C Church, Jill C Rau, Stefania Brotini","doi":"10.3390/neurosci7040093","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci7040093","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons. Its symptoms affect both motor functions-such as bradykinesia, rigidity, resting tremor, and postural instability-and non-motor functions, including neuropsychiatric issues, sleep disorders, and constipation. Drawing on the literature, the following topics were developed and presented: Pathophysiology; Treatment; Neuropsychiatric and Cognitive Function; Sleep Challenges; Exercise and Movement; Striving for Wellness; and Obstacles/Paths Forward. These seven categories form the foundation of this review, which centers on four main areas related to PD: dopamine biology and pathophysiology; management of key motor and non-motor symptoms; strategies for achieving wellness; and unresolved issues in PD. The complexity of PD's clinical features is highlighted by describing patient-healthcare provider interactions, elucidating disease mechanisms, managing motor and non-motor symptoms, highlighting the benefits of exercise, emphasizing the importance of sleep, addressing mental health challenges and cognitive changes, fostering a hopeful and resilient mindset, potentially slowing disease progression, treating comorbidities, and promoting overall wellness. Although there have been tremendous advances in the basic science and clinical management of PD in recent years, PD remains incurable. Thus, we describe several roadblocks that have hindered progress in understanding PD. Only by integrating historical insights with the latest PD advances can we acquire the knowledge needed to change the disease's trajectory. Finally, this review aims to provide a meaningful summary for healthcare professionals (and students) caring for patients with PD.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"7 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13516459/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148835440","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Responsive Neurostimulation Therapy Outcomes in Two Small Bilateral Thalamic and Corticothalamic Subgroups of Patients with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy-A Single-Center Experience.","authors":"Ramya Krothapally, Ghazala Perven, Divya Veerapaneni, Irina Podkorytova","doi":"10.3390/neurosci7040092","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci7040092","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Responsive neurostimulation (RNS) is a neuromodulation option for treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). There is limited data reviewing bilateral thalamic and corticothalamic RNS therapy response. We performed a retrospective analysis of 21 patients undergoing RNS implantation with either bilateral thalamic (<i>n</i> = 17) or corticothalamic (<i>n</i> = 4) leads and ≥6 months of follow-up. Patients were classified as responders (≥50% seizure frequency reduction) vs. non-responders (<50% seizure frequency reduction). Among the bilateral thalamic cohort, 12/17 (70.6%) patients were responders, and 15/17 (88.2%) patients reported reduction in seizure severity. Pre-RNS seizure frequency was higher in bilateral thalamic nonresponders, although not found to be significant (median 13 vs. 30 seizures per month, <i>p</i> = 0.20). Among the corticothalamic cohort, 3/4 (75.0%) patients were responders, and all patients demonstrated improvement in seizure severity. These findings suggest that although bilateral thalamic targets were selected at our center more often, both bilateral thalamic and corticothalamic RNS approaches provided seizure frequency reduction. The majority of patients, including non-responders, reported seizure severity alleviation.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"7 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13516396/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148835514","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The BLTT (Bonn Leistungs Tracking Test) in Patients with Temporal Lobe Gliomas-Feasibility of a Novel Neurocognitive Test Battery.","authors":"Sarah-Marie Gallert, Julia Taube, Anna-Laura Potthoff, Thomas Zeyen, Valeri Borger, Motaz Hamed, Rainer Surges, Hartmut Vatter, Christoph Helmstaedter, Matthias Schneider","doi":"10.3390/neurosci7040091","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci7040091","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Neurocognitive testing in neuro-oncological patients often relies on time-intensive batteries with limited feasibility in this patient cohort. We evaluated the feasibility of the Bonn Leistungs Tracking Test (BLTT), a time-efficient screening tool assessing episodic memory, semantic memory, and executive functions in patients with high-grade temporal lobe gliomas.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty patients undergoing resection of temporal high-grade glioma between 2019 and 2022 underwent preoperative cognitive assessment using either the BLTT or a comprehensive neuropsychological battery routinely applied in temporal lobe epilepsy surgery.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twelve patients (60%) underwent the BLTT, and eight (40%) underwent the standard neuropsychological test battery. The BLTT was feasible in all 12 individuals (0% drop-out), whereas only four of eight patients (50% drop-out) were able to complete the standard battery. The mean BLTT total score was 69.3 (SD 4.5), indicating impaired neurocognitive performance relative to normative data. The BLTT provided evaluable domain-specific measures across episodic memory, semantic memory, and executive functioning despite the high discontinuation rate observed with standard testing.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The BLTT showed high feasibility for preoperative neurocognitive testing in patients with temporal high-grade gliomas. Its brief administration time and consistent applicability across relevant cognitive domains support its utility for routine neurocognitive assessment.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"7 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13516191/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148835504","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exercise and Brain Health in Postmenopausal Women: A Review of Cognitive Benefits, Mechanisms, and Neurodegeneration Prevention.","authors":"April Mae Flynn, Ahmed Hankir, Mahera Abdulrahman, Nouf Al-Rumaihi, Frederick Robert Carrick","doi":"10.3390/neurosci7040090","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci7040090","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Menopause represents a major neuroendocrine transition characterized by substantial hormonal, metabolic, vascular, and inflammatory changes that may increase vulnerability to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disease. Declining estrogen levels during the menopausal transition influence multiple neural processes, including synaptic plasticity, cerebral glucose metabolism, mitochondrial function, neuroinflammatory signaling, and cerebrovascular regulation. Women account for nearly two-thirds of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and mounting evidence suggests that menopause may represent a period of heightened neurological vulnerability. Physical exercise has emerged as one of the most promising non-pharmacological strategies for preserving cognitive health and reducing neurodegeneration risk in aging women. Current evidence demonstrates that exercise interventions after menopause are associated with improvements in executive function, memory performance, attention, and global cognition. These benefits appear to result from converging biological mechanisms that include enhanced neurotrophic signaling, increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression, improved cerebrovascular function, reduced systemic inflammation, improved insulin sensitivity, enhanced metabolic regulation, and preservation of structural brain integrity. Neuroimaging studies further demonstrate exercise-associated increases in hippocampal volume, cortical thickness, functional connectivity, and cerebral blood flow. Different exercise modalities appear to produce distinct but complementary neurological benefits. Aerobic exercise is strongly associated with improved cerebrovascular function and hippocampal integrity, resistance training demonstrates favorable effects on executive function and white matter preservation, and multimodal interventions combining aerobic, resistance, balance, and cognitively engaging activities appear to produce the broadest cognitive benefits. Emerging evidence further suggests that the timing of exercise initiation relative to menopause may influence outcomes, with earlier interventions potentially conferring greater neuroprotection. This review synthesizes current evidence regarding the effects of exercise on cognitive function in postmenopausal women, with emphasis on biological mechanisms, neuroimaging findings, exercise modality, timing considerations, and implications for neurodegeneration prevention. Understanding these relationships provides a scientific rationale for positioning exercise as a foundational strategy for preserving cognitive health and reducing neurodegenerative disease burden in postmenopausal women.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"7 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13516975/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148835471","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Overcoming Perfusion Impairment in the Ischemic Brain: A Review.","authors":"Andrew T McKenzie, Aschwin de Wolf, Alexander Grotemeyer, Emil Kendziorra, Alexander German","doi":"10.3390/neurosci7040089","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci7040089","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Perfusion impairment is one of the major barriers to using machine perfusion to prepare brain tissue for research and clinical applications. As ischemia progresses, multiple mechanisms, including intravascular obstructions, perivascular cellular edema, mural cell contraction, and vessel wall breakdown, progressively limit the uniform delivery of preservative solutions. This problem is particularly important for connectomics, wherein successful preservation requires both widespread distribution of preservative chemicals and the maintenance of the cellular ultrastructure needed for circuit reconstruction. We conducted a narrative review of interventions used to ameliorate perfusion impairment across multiple fields, including organ transplantation, resuscitation medicine, forensic pathology, embalming, and neuroscience. We evaluated the evidence for these approaches in their original contexts and considered their potential application for brain banking aimed at preserving tissue for connectome reconstruction. We classify interventions into several categories, including anticoagulants, fibrinolytics, vasodilators, washout solutions, surfactants, osmotic agents, colloids, hypothermia, and perfusion pressure optimization. Many of these interventions have the potential to improve perfusion, but each also carries tradeoffs that may adversely affect tissue preservation. As connectomics advances toward profiling larger volumes of human brain tissue, overcoming perfusion impairment is likely to become an increasingly important challenge. This review provides a mechanistic framework for evaluating existing interventions and guiding the development of future perfusion protocols.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"7 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13516838/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148835469","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antidepressant-like and Anticonvulsant Effects of a Phenolic-Enriched Fraction from <i>Malpighia mexicana</i> in Murine Models.","authors":"David Osvaldo Salinas-Sánchez, Manasés González-Cortazar, Franceli Itzel Batalla-Martinez, Alejandro Zamilpa, Maura Téllez-Téllez, María Guadalupe Valladares-Cisneros, César Sotelo-Leyva, Rodolfo Figueroa-Brito, Ma Dolores Pérez-García, Dante Avilés-Montes","doi":"10.3390/neurosci7040088","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci7040088","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Malpighia mexicana</i> has been traditionally used in Mexican ethnomedicine for the treatment of central nervous systems disorders. Previous studies have demonstrated neuropharmacological activity of crude extracts, but the contribution of enriched phytochemical fractions remains unclear. A phenolic-enriched fraction (G4) obtained from the aerial parts of <i>M. mexicana</i> was evaluated for antidepressant-like and anticonvulsant activities in mice. Antidepressant-like effects were assessed using the forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST), while locomotor activity was evaluated in the open field test. Anticonvulsant activity was determined using the pentylentetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizure model. The phytochemical profile of G4 was characterized by HPLC-DAD analysis. G4 (50 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced immobility time in both FST and TST compared to the vehicle group (<i>p</i> < 0.05) without affecting locomotor activity in the OFT, suggesting a specific antidepressant-like effect. In the PTZ model, G4 significantly increased latency to clonic and tonic seizures and reduced seizure severity. HPLC-DAD analysis revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, with kaempferol and p-coumaric acid as major constituents. The phenolic-enriched G4 fraction from <i>M. mexicana</i> exhibits antidepressant-like and anticonvulsant effects in murine models, supporting its traditional use. These findings suggest that phenolic constituents, particularly kaempferol and p-coumaric acid, may contribute to the observed neuropharmacological activity. However, since only the G4 fraction was pharmacologically evaluated and not the isolated compounds, the specific role of each constituent remains to be established. Further studies are required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action and the contribution of individual compounds and potential synergistic interactions.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"7 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13516562/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148835477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Editorial for the Special Issue \"Cognitive Impairment and Neuropsychiatric Dysfunctions in Multiple Sclerosis (Volume II)\".","authors":"Ugo Nocentini","doi":"10.3390/neurosci7040087","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci7040087","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the second-leading cause of disability in young adults [...].</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"7 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13516877/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148835523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Influence of Serum Iron Levels on Depression, Anxiety, Fatigue, Neuropathic Pain and MR Disease Activity in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.","authors":"Simonida Delic, Svetlana Miletic Drakulic, Snezana Lazarevic, Milos Stepovic, Nikoleta Janicijevic, Maja Vulovic, Aleksandra Mitrovic Zivanovic, Danica Igrutinovic, Melanija Tepavcevic, Milica Dimitrijevic, Katarina Manojlovic, Bojana Markovic, Nebojsa Igrutinovic, Vladimir Markovic, Ana Azanjac Arsic","doi":"10.3390/neurosci7040086","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci7040086","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory, autoimmune, and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system. Our study aimed to examine the relationship between serum iron levels and the following clinical parameters: depression, anxiety, fatigue, neuropathic pain, and disease activity on magnetic resonance imaging in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>This study was designed as a clinical observational, cross-sectional study. This study was conducted at the Clinic of Neurology of the University Clinical Center Kragujevac, from 2022 to 2024, according to the ethical code of the Declaration of Helsinki. Demographic and clinical data on patients were obtained from the medical history. All MS patients were diagnosed according to the McDonald criteria (2017). This study included 65 patients in the experimental group and 11 healthy individuals in the control group, with an average age of 39.68 years. Serum iron levels were biochemically analyzed from venous blood. The following standardized tests were used to collect data on depression, anxiety, fatigue, and neuropathic pain: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), PainDETECT Questionnaire (PD-Q), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Serum iron level significantly correlates with disease activity on magnetic resonance imaging in patients with multiple sclerosis. Serum iron showed a moderate positive correlation with hemoglobin, hematocrit, total and direct bilirubin, and a weak positive correlation with uric acid, while a moderate negative correlation was observed with erythrocyte sedimentation rate. No statistically significant difference was found between serum iron levels and depression, anxiety, fatigue, and severity of neuropathic pain. The ROC curves show the diagnostic potential of the combined parameters in differentiating RRMS from controls, as well as the potential of iron in differentiating active from inactive MS. The presence of disease, hemoglobin and total bilirubin were recorded as significant independent predictors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study is a descriptive attempt to present the potential role of iron in the radiological activity of the disease. High serum iron level may be associated with radiological disease activity in patients with multiple sclerosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"7 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13516697/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148835496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rapid Onset of Clinical Response to Eculizumab in a Single-Center Cohort of Older Patients with Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis.","authors":"Giulia D'Alvano, Salvatore Del Giudice, Francesca D'Anna, Vincenzo Todisco, Alessandro Tessitore, Alvino Bisecco","doi":"10.3390/neurosci7040085","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci7040085","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Current treatments for myasthenia gravis (MG), while improving outcomes, are often associated with adverse effects, and a proportion of patients remain refractory to standard therapies. Eculizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting complement protein C5, is approved for refractory anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive generalized MG (AChR-Ab+ gMG). Aim of the present study is to explore the rapidity of onset of eculizumab efficacy in a single-center cohort of MG patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective, observational, single-center study evaluated the real-world effectiveness and rapidity of response to eculizumab in patients with AChR-Ab+ gMG. Patients received eculizumab according to the approved regimen and were assessed at baseline (T0), 5 weeks (T1), and 3 months (T2) using the Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) score, Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) score, and Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) classification.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eight patients were eligible for the study with a mean age of 73.1 years. A rapid clinical improvement was observed after treatment initiation. Mean MG-ADL scores decreased from 8.38 at T0 to 2.13 at T1 (<i>p</i> < 0.001; Cohen's d = 2.075), while QMG scores declined from 13.75 to 5.63 (<i>p</i> = 0.001; Cohen's d = 1.824). Improvements were maintained at T2. Mean percentage reductions from T0 to T1 were 73.5% for MG-ADL and 60.6% for QMG. Eculizumab was well tolerated.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These real-world findings confirm a rapid and clinically meaningful response to eculizumab in elderly patients with refractory gMG. These findings highlight its potential role in achieving early symptom control and reducing disease burden in this clinically vulnerable population.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"7 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13516849/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148835494","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"NLRP3 Inflammasome and Inflammation-Related Proteins Expression Characterized in Non-Cultivated Versus Cultivated Peripheral Blood Cells of Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.","authors":"Denis Shevchuk, Yulia Kuzmenko, Mariya Zakharova, Vadim Karpov, Elizaveta Starodubova, Anastasia Latanova","doi":"10.3390/neurosci7040084","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci7040084","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cell and mouse models studies demonstrate NLRP3 inflammasome involvement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) neuroinflammation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are a promising, yet understudied, source of in vivo inflammasome activation biomarkers. Our study reviewed the literature on PBMC-based inflammasome studies of ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases and tested different conditions for PBMC handling to evaluate inflammasome and inflammation-related protein expression in these cells.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Expression of NLRP3 inflammasome components and inflammation-related proteins was analyzed by Real-time qPCR and Western blot in non-cultivated/cultivated PBMCs of 23 ALS patients and 20 Healthy controls. IL-1β and IL-18 levels were measured in plasma and cultivated PBMC supernatants by ELISA.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Cultivation of PBMCs decreased expression of inflammasome components and inflammation-related cytokines on the mRNA but not protein level. NLRP3 mRNA expression was significantly higher in ALS-cultivated PBMCs. In both ALS and Healthy controls, IL-18 was detected in plasma, and IL-1β in supernatants of cultivated PBMCs.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings suggest that PBMC handling conditions, i.e., cell cultivation, may determine particular parameters associated with NLRP3 inflammasome expression and activation pathway, so they should be carefully selected for PBMC-based studies of inflammasome in neurodegenerative and non-neurological disorders and taken into account when interpreting the study results.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"7 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13516774/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148835461","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}