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The role of melatonin in multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease and cerebral ischemia.

CNS & neurological disorders drug targets
January 1, 2014
Begoña M Escribano et al. (4 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate melatonin's role in neurodegenerative processes, specifically in multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease, and cerebral ischemia, and its potential therapeutic use.

Results Summary

Melatonin demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, reducing cell damage linked to oxidative stress and inflammation in neurodegenerative disorders. Changes in melatonin levels were observed in these diseases, suggesting its involvement in their pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic potential.

Population

Individuals with neurodegenerative diseases (multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease, cerebral ischemia).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (2)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
melatonin
decrease
cell damage associated with oxidative stress and inflammation
-
-
able to reduce or mitigate
#1
melatonin
neutral
melatonin levels
Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis and cerebral ischemia
-
changes have been observed
#2
Abstract

Melatonin is produced and released by the pineal gland in a circadian rhythm. This neurohormone has proven to be an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory molecule able to reduce or mitigate cell damage associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, and this phenomenon underlies neurodegenerative disorders. These facts have drawn attention to this indole, triggering interest in evaluating its changes and in its relationship to the processes indicated, and analyzing its role in the mechanisms involved at the onset and development of neurodegenerative diseases, as well as its therapeutic potential. Multiple sclerosis, the most common cause of non-traumatic disability in young adults, is a chronic neuroinflammatory disease, characterized by demyelination, inflammation, and neuronal and oxidative damage. In its early diagnosis, it often requires a differential screening with other neurodegenerative diseases with similar symptoms, such as Huntington's disease, an autosomal dominant disorder. The onset of both diseases occurs in the second or third decade of life. On the other hand, cerebral ischemia is a major cause of human disability all over the world. Although a cerebral stroke can occur as the result of different damaging insults, severe ischemia produces the death of neuronal cells within minutes. Changes in melatonin levels have been observed in these processes (Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis and cerebral ischemia) as part of their pathogenic features. This review aims to update and discuss the role played by melatonin during neurodegenerative processes, specifically in multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease, and cerebral ischemia, and its possible therapeutic use. We also provide readers with an update on the many neuroprotective mechanisms exerted by this neurohormone in the Central Nervous System.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Brain IschemiaDisease ProgressionHumansHuntington DiseaseMelatoninMultiple Sclerosis
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality80/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations43
Citations/Year3.9
Relative Citation Ratio1.70
NIH Percentile69.4%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score1.72
Normalized Score0.66
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