Novel therapeutic strategies targeting mitochondria as a gateway in neurodegeneration

In recent years, multiple disciplines have focused on mitochondrial biology and contributed to understanding its relevance towards adult-onset neurodegenerative disorders. These are complex dynamic organelles that have a variety of functions in ensuring cellular health and homeostasis. The plethora of mitochondrial functionalities confers them an intrinsic susceptibility to internal and external stressors (such as mutation accumulation or environmental toxins), particularly so in long-lived postmitotic cells such as neurons. Thus, it is reasonable to postulate an involvement of mitochondria in aging-associated neurological disorders, notably neurodegenerative pathologies including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. On the other hand, biological effects resulting from neurodegeneration can in turn affect mitochondrial health and function, promoting a feedback loop further contributing to the progression of neuronal dysfunction and cellular death. This review examines state-of-the-art knowledge, focus on current research exploring mitochondrial health as a contributing factor to neuroregeneration, and the development of therapeutic approaches aimed at restoring mitochondrial homeostasis in a pathological setting.