The role of monoamine oxidase enzymes in the pathophysiology of neurological disorders.

Although it has been nearly 100 years since the first description of monoamine oxidase, we are still learning about its role in the healthy brain and how it is altered in various disease states. The present review provides a survey of our current understanding of monoamine oxidases, with a focus on their contributions to neuropsychiatric, neurodevelopmental, and neurodegenerative disease. Important species differences in monoamine oxidase function and development in the brain are highlighted. Sex-specific monoamine oxidase regulatory mechanisms and their implications for various neurological disorders are also discussed. While our understanding of these critical enzymes has expanded over the last century, gaps exist in our understanding of sex- and species-differences and the roles monoamine oxidases may play in conditions often comorbid with neurological disorders.