NeuroSciPub Date : 2026-02-06DOI: 10.3390/neurosci7010023
Adrian Jorda, Kenia Alvarez-Gamez, Ignacio Campo-Palacio, Juan Campos-Campos, Carlos Colmena, Sandeep Kumar Singh, Maria Jose Chiva Miralles, Constanza Aldasoro, Martin Aldasoro, Soraya L Valles
{"title":"Inflammatory Mediators of Alzheimer's Disease Characterized in a Mouse Model (APP/PS1).","authors":"Adrian Jorda, Kenia Alvarez-Gamez, Ignacio Campo-Palacio, Juan Campos-Campos, Carlos Colmena, Sandeep Kumar Singh, Maria Jose Chiva Miralles, Constanza Aldasoro, Martin Aldasoro, Soraya L Valles","doi":"10.3390/neurosci7010023","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci7010023","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Alzheimer's disease (AD) is marked by amyloid plaques, hyperphosphorylated TAU proteins, and neuroinflammation. The APP/PS1 mouse model is widely used to study AD pathogenesis. In this study, we investigated the expression of chemokines and their receptors, which may play a role in AD's pathological mechanisms, using brain cortex tissue from female APP/PS1 mice aged 20-21 months. We analyzed several chemokine receptors (CCR1, CCR2, CCR3, CCR4, CCR6, CCR7, CCR9, and CCR10) by Western blot and focused on CCR6, CCR7, and CCR10 using RT-PCR. Additionally, we quantified the levels of chemokines (CCL6, CCL8, CCL19, CCL20, CCL24, and CCL27) by RT-PCR. Our results showed a significant decrease in CCL8 and CCL19, along with their respective receptors, in the APP/PS1 mice compared to controls. On the other hand, we observed a notable increase in CCL6, CCL24, CCL20, CCL27, and their receptors. Chemokines like CCL8 and CCL20, involved in inflammatory responses, may reveal how neuroinflammation contributes to AD. CCL19 and CCL27 are linked to immune cell trafficking, which may help explain immune cell interactions with amyloid plaques and TAU tangles in the CNS. Overall, the altered expression of chemokines such as CCL24 could serve as biomarkers for early AD detection and monitoring disease progression. These findings suggest potential therapeutic targets to modulate immune responses and reduce neuroinflammation in AD.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12921763/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146260425","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}
NeuroSciPub Date : 2026-02-03DOI: 10.3390/neurosci7010022
Ali Al-Salahat, Rohan Sharma
{"title":"Disparities in Spinal Muscular Atrophy-Related Mortality in the United States, 2018-2023.","authors":"Ali Al-Salahat, Rohan Sharma","doi":"10.3390/neurosci7010022","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci7010022","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Prior SMA mortality studies have shown excess mortality in people with SMA, but the literature lacks data on disparities in SMA-related mortality. This study examined disparities in SMA-related mortality in the United States in the post-treatment era (2018-2023).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a population-based study using the CDC Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) database. The International Classification of Disease (ICD), 10th Revision, Clinical Modification codes, G12.0, G12.1, G12.8, and G12.9, were used to identify SMA. The data were stratified by biological sex, race/ethnicity (Non-Hispanic/NH White, NH Black, Hispanic, Asian) and Census regions (West, Northeast, Midwest, South). The analysis was conducted by calculating rate ratios (RR) of age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were 821 (45.8% female) SMA-related deaths across the study period. Males were associated with higher AAMR than females (RR = 1.189, 95% CI: 1.035 to 1.366). The SMA-AAMR for NH White individuals was the highest compared to Hispanic individuals (RR = 1.808, 95% CI: 1.420 to 2.300), followed by NH Black and Asian individuals. The West carried the highest AAMR compared to the Northeast (RR = 1.581, 95% CI: 1.263 to 1.978), followed by the Midwest and the South. The age at death distribution showed a bimodal pattern, as follows: 5-14 years and 65-74 years. The infant age group (<1 year) was associated with the highest AAMR compared to all other age groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings showed that SMA-related mortality was highest in infants, NH White individuals, the West, and males. These data may assist future efforts to reduce the burden of SMA.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12921898/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146260422","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}
NeuroSciPub Date : 2026-02-03DOI: 10.3390/neurosci7010021
Tihomir Taskov, Juliana Dushanova
{"title":"Functional Networks in Developmental Dyslexia: Auditory Discrimination of Words and Pseudowords.","authors":"Tihomir Taskov, Juliana Dushanova","doi":"10.3390/neurosci7010021","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci7010021","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Developmental dyslexia (DD) often involves difficulties in phonological processing of speech.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>While underlying neural changes have been identified in terms of stimulus- and task-related responses within specific brain regions and their neural connectivity, there is still limited understanding of how these changes affect the overall organization of brain networks.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study used EEG and functional network analysis, focusing on small-world propensity across various frequency bands (from δ to γ), to explore the global brain organization during the auditory discrimination of words and pseudowords in children with DD.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The main finding revealed a systemic inefficiency in the functional network of individuals with DD, which did not achieve the optimal small-world propensity. This inefficiency arises from a fundamental trade-off between localized specialization and global communication. During word listening, the δ-/γ1-networks (related to impaired syllabic and phonemic processing of words) and the θ-/β-networks (related to pseudoword listening) in the DD group showed lower local clustering and connectivity compared to the control group, resulting in reduced functional segregation. In particular, the θ-/β-networks for words in the DD group exhibited a less optimal balance between specialized local processing and effective global communication. Centralized midline hubs, such as the postcentral gyrus (PstCG) and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), which are crucial for global coordination, attention, and executive control, were either absent or inconsistent in individuals with DD. Consequently, the DD network adopted a constrained, motor-compensatory, and left-lateralized strategy. This led to the redirection of information flow and processing effort toward the left PstCG/IFG loop, interpreted as a compensatory effort to counteract automatic processing failures. Additionally, the γ1-network, which is involved in phonetic feature binding, lacked engagement from posterior sensory hubs, forcing this critical process into a slow and effortful motor loop. The γ2-network exhibited unusual activation of right-hemisphere posterior areas during word processing, while it employed a simpler, less mature routing strategy for pseudoword listening, which further diminished global communication.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This functionality highlights the core phonological and temporal processing deficits characteristic of dyslexia.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12921797/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146260439","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}
NeuroSciPub Date : 2026-02-02DOI: 10.3390/neurosci7010020
Carmen Rodriguez-Cerdeira
{"title":"5α-Reductase Isoenzymes: From Neurosteroid Biosynthesis to Neuropsychiatric Outcomes.","authors":"Carmen Rodriguez-Cerdeira","doi":"10.3390/neurosci7010020","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci7010020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>5a-reductase (5a-R) isozymes are essential for androgen metabolism and neurosteroid biosynthesis, linking endocrinology and neuropsychiatry. This systematic review, conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines, aimed to synthesize current evidence on the tissue distribution of SRD5A1, SRD5A2, and SRD5A3 and their implications in mental health. A systematic search of the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases up to February 2025 identified 257 articles, of which 83 met the inclusion criteria. SRD5A1 is broadly expressed in the liver, skin, and central nervous system, contributing to allopregnanolone synthesis; SRD5A2 is mainly restricted to androgen-dependent tissues, playing a key role in prostate development and alopecia; and SRD5A3 is associated with glycosylation processes and oncogenesis. Converging evidence suggests that impaired neurosteroidogenesis due to 5α-R inhibition may underlie vulnerability to anxiety, depression, and suicidality. While earlier epidemiological findings were heterogeneous, recent pharmacovigilance data have strengthened the evidence supporting this association. Pharmacovigilance and clinical reports show that a subset of patients treated with finasteride or dutasteride may experience persistent psychiatric and sexual adverse effects, known as post-finasteride syndrome. The current findings underscore the need for careful patient counseling, systematic monitoring, and further translational studies integrating genetics, neuroendocrine markers, and standardized psychiatric outcomes to identify individuals at risk and advance personalized medicine in this field.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12921826/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146260388","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}
NeuroSciPub Date : 2026-02-02DOI: 10.3390/neurosci7010017
Aleeza Safdar, Ali Osman, Rouzbeh Motiei-Langroudi
{"title":"Spinal Cavernous Malformations: A Narrative Review.","authors":"Aleeza Safdar, Ali Osman, Rouzbeh Motiei-Langroudi","doi":"10.3390/neurosci7010017","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci7010017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The management of spinal cord cavernous malformations (SCCMs) involves critical decisions between surgical and conservative treatments, informed by the patient's preoperative neurological status, lesion characteristics, and timing of intervention (early or delayed surgery). Surgery remains an option for symptomatic patients, especially those with significant or progressive neurological deficits and large lesions, aiming for gross total excision to prevent (re)hemorrhage and improve outcomes. Conversely, conservative management is appropriate for small, asymptomatic lesions, with regular monitoring to detect changes necessitating surgery. Studies highlight the benefits and risks of both approaches. Surgical resection typically leads to neurological recovery, although worse preoperative status and larger lesions predict poorer outcomes. Other factors influencing surgical success include lesion location and timing of surgery, with early surgery (within 3 months) generally yielding better long-term outcomes. Future research should focus on the optimal timing of surgery, particularly the benefits of urgent intervention.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12921962/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146259528","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}
NeuroSciPub Date : 2026-02-02DOI: 10.3390/neurosci7010019
Matthew K McIntyre, Huanwen Chen, Dheeraj Gandhi, Ajay Malhotra, Ryan Priest, Marco Colasurdo
{"title":"Intravenous Thrombolysis for Ischemic Stroke Patients with Pituitary Neoplasms: A Nationwide Study and Scoping Review.","authors":"Matthew K McIntyre, Huanwen Chen, Dheeraj Gandhi, Ajay Malhotra, Ryan Priest, Marco Colasurdo","doi":"10.3390/neurosci7010019","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci7010019","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The safety of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with pituitary neoplasms is unclear. This study aims to assess IVT's safety and efficacy in this patient population.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We reviewed PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Web of Science through July 2025 for reports of IVT administration in AIS patients with pituitary neoplasia. We also performed a retrospective analysis of the Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) from 2016 to 2022 to compare outcomes of IVT versus no IVT for AIS patients with pituitary neoplasia, and outcomes of IVT-treated AIS patients with versus without pituitary neoplasia. Outcomes of interest include post-stroke functional status, intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), mortality, and pituitary apoplexy. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to adjust for confounders.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The literature review identified 5 AIS patients with pituitary neoplasia, of whom 3/5 (60%) experienced intracranial hemorrhage and none developed apoplexy. In the nationwide analysis of 1,246,750 AIS patients, 1661 (0.13%) had concomitant pituitary neoplasm. Among these patients, IVT was associated with higher odds of functional independence at discharge (adjusted OR 2.46 [95%CI 1.56-3.87]), without increased risk of ICH or in-hospital death (<i>p</i> > 0.05). No cases of pituitary apoplexy were observed. Outcomes among all IVT-treated AIS patients did not differ between those with and without pituitary neoplasms (all <i>p</i> > 0.05).</p><p><strong>Interpretation: </strong>Only five cases of IVT for AIS patients with pituitary neoplasia were identified, highlighting a striking lack of clinical data. In a large U.S. cohort of AIS patients, IVT was associated with improved hospitalization outcomes without increased risk of ICH or pituitary apoplexy.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12922147/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146260427","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}
NeuroSciPub Date : 2026-02-02DOI: 10.3390/neurosci7010018
Elias Manjarrez, Ignacio Méndez-Balbuena, Saul M Dominguez-Nicolas, Oscar Arias-Carrión
{"title":"Noise-Limited Failure of OGY Chaos Control in Regulating Monosynaptic Reflex Variability in the In Vivo Cat Spinal Cord.","authors":"Elias Manjarrez, Ignacio Méndez-Balbuena, Saul M Dominguez-Nicolas, Oscar Arias-Carrión","doi":"10.3390/neurosci7010018","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci7010018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Monosynaptic reflexes (MSRs) elicited by constant-intensity group I afferent stimulation exhibit marked amplitude variability, commonly attributed to stochastic presynaptic modulation and dynamic postsynaptic excitability. Here, we tested whether this variability could be attenuated using the Ott-Grebogi-Yorke (OGY) chaos-control algorithm, which stabilizes unstable periodic orbits in low-dimensional nonlinear systems. In spinalized, anesthetized cats, real-time implementation of the OGY method failed to reduce MSR amplitude variability, as quantified by the coefficient of variation, and the return map structure showed no evidence of orbit stabilization. These negative results contrast with successful applications of OGY control in physical systems, cardiac tissue, hippocampal slices, and stochastic neuronal models. We interpret this failure in the context of the intense, ongoing synaptic bombardment characteristic of dorsal horn circuitry, which likely obscures or destroys the low-dimensional geometric structure required for OGY-based control. Our findings delineate a fundamental limit to classical chaos-control algorithms in intact neural circuits and highlight the need for control strategies explicitly robust to high dimensionality and physiological noise.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12922067/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146260420","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}
NeuroSciPub Date : 2026-01-26DOI: 10.3390/neurosci7010016
Oscar Alexis Becerra-Casillas, Karen Alejandra Diaz-Lozano, Mario Treviño, Paulina Osuna-Carrasco, Braniff de la Torre-Valdovinos
{"title":"Effects of Incremental Mechanical Load on Readiness Potential Amplitude During Voluntary Movement.","authors":"Oscar Alexis Becerra-Casillas, Karen Alejandra Diaz-Lozano, Mario Treviño, Paulina Osuna-Carrasco, Braniff de la Torre-Valdovinos","doi":"10.3390/neurosci7010016","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci7010016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Voluntary movement arises from a sequence of neural processes that involve planning, preparation, and execution within distributed cortical networks. The readiness potential, a slow negative brain signal preceding self-initiated actions, represents a sensitive indicator of motor preparation. However, it remains unclear how this signal reflects concurrent variations in mechanical and temporal demands. In this study, twenty-eight healthy participants performed self-paced elbow flexions under nine combinations of mechanical load and movement duration while brain electrical activity, muscle activity, and movement kinematics were simultaneously recorded. Linear mixed-effects analyses revealed that the amplitude of the readiness potential increased progressively with greater mechanical load, indicating that cortical readiness scales with the intensity of preparatory effort. In contrast, longer movement durations produced smaller amplitudes, suggesting that extended temporal windows reduce the efficiency of preparatory synchronization. No significant interaction between load and duration was observed, supporting the idea of partially independent neural mechanisms for effort and timing. These findings identify the readiness potential as a neural marker integrating the energetic and temporal dimensions of voluntary movement and provide a basis for understanding how cortical readiness dynamically optimizes human motor performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12921751/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146260434","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}
NeuroSciPub Date : 2026-01-17DOI: 10.3390/neurosci7010015
Leigh Martin Riby, Dimana Kardzhieva, Sam Fenwick, Sophia Fowler, Mark Moss
{"title":"The Impact of a Rosemary Containing Drink on Cognition and Mood: The Role of Eye Blink Dynamics.","authors":"Leigh Martin Riby, Dimana Kardzhieva, Sam Fenwick, Sophia Fowler, Mark Moss","doi":"10.3390/neurosci7010015","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci7010015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Rosemary (<i>Salvia rosmarinus</i>) has been linked to improvements in psychological wellbeing through cholinergic mechanisms. However, this study investigated whether individual differences in eye blink rate (EBR) and blink variability (EBV), which are proxies of dopaminergic activity and attentional control, influence the cognitive and mood-enhancing properties of a rosemary-containing drink. Forty-eight healthy adults completed a three-stimulus odd-ball cognitive task under rosemary or control conditions, while vertical electrooculograms were recorded. Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were also measured using the P3a component at the Cz scalp electrode as an additional index of dopaminergic activity. Subjective mood and arousal (alert, contented, calm) were collected pre- and post-task using Bond-Lader visual analogue scales. Reaction times during the task were modelled with ex-Gaussian parameters (μ, σ, τ). Rosemary ingestion led to increased alertness and contentedness following the task. Cognitive effects were moderated by blink metrics, with significant interactions between rosemary and blink metrics for mean reaction time μ and response variability σ. Rosemary also increased P3a amplitudes, indicative of dopaminergic contribution. The effects of rosemary on cognition and mood were moderated by individual blink profiles, indicating that baseline neurocognitive state plays a role. Although cholinergic accounts are well established, this study highlights the use of proxies of dopamine to investigate broader neurotransmitter involvement in rosemary's enhancing properties.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12821602/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146013783","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}
NeuroSciPub Date : 2026-01-15DOI: 10.3390/neurosci7010013
Cindy M Wozniczka, Donald F Weaver
{"title":"β-Alanine Is an Unexploited Neurotransmitter in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.","authors":"Cindy M Wozniczka, Donald F Weaver","doi":"10.3390/neurosci7010013","DOIUrl":"10.3390/neurosci7010013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains an unmet medical challenge, as there are no effective therapies that alter the disease's progression. While approaches have targeted molecules like acetylcholine (ACh) and glutamate, these strategies have provided only limited benefits and do not address the complex molecular mechanisms underlying AD development. This review suggests that β-alanine (3-aminopropanoic acid) is an underexplored neurotransmitter that could serve as a potential AD drug target. Existing evidence indicates that β-alanine modulates GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission, thereby affecting neuronal hyperexcitability. Additionally, studies suggest that β-alanine has antioxidant effects, reducing oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). We propose that β-alanine might bind to Aβ/tau proteins, possibly targeting the six-amino acid sequences EVHHQK/DDKKAK, which are involved in protein aggregation. β-Alanine may also influence the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from microglia, potentially reducing neuroinflammation. We also hypothesize that β-alanine may help regulate metal dyshomeostasis, which leads to ROS production. Taurine, structurally like β-alanine, appears to influence comparable mechanisms. Although structural similarity doesn't ensure therapeutic effectiveness, this evidence supports considering β-alanine as a treatment for AD. Furthermore, β-alanine and its analogues face challenges, including crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and optimizing structure-activity relationships (SAR). This review includes articles through September 2025, sourced from four databases.</p>","PeriodicalId":74294,"journal":{"name":"NeuroSci","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12821673/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146013741","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}