The role of melatonin in multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease and cerebral ischemia.
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
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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.