Daño cerebral y neurodegeneración: Papel protector de la melatonina y su aplicación clínica

Neurodegeneration is a public health concern affecting millions of people worldwide. The scientific community is pointing several biological targets nowadays, thought these disorders cause remains unclear. In this complex scenario, melatonin arises as a valuable therapeutic resource to counteract most of the physiopathological events trigger by neurodegenerative disorders and cerebral ischemia. Aging reduces the endogenous release of melatonin, and according to this reduction, it may have an essential significance in age-related dysfunctions. Melatonin is ubiquitous in the central nervous system. Indeed, its functionality is related to a decrease in the accumulation and aggregation of aberrant proteins. In this way modulating immune response and neuroinflammation and at the same time improving mitochondrial biogenesis and neurogenesis. In light of these properties, this indolamine is a promising agent against neurodegeneration and brain damage due to ischemia, reinforced by its low cost and non-toxic profile. Nonetheless, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the actions of melatonin should be deeply explored consequently, these should lead to melatonin clinical trials with patients suffering from neurodegenerative disorders and cerebral ischemia.