Cerebellum in neurodegenerative diseases: Advances, challenges, and prospects

Guangdong Liu; Cui Yang; Xin Wang; Xi Chen; Huaibin Cai; Weidong Le

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2024.111194

Cerebellum in neurodegenerative diseases: Advances, challenges, and prospects

iScience. 2024 Oct 18;27(11):111194. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.111194. eCollection 2024 Nov 15.

Authors

Guangdong Liu¹, Cui Yang¹, Xin Wang¹, Xi Chen¹, Huaibin Cai², Weidong Le^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Neurology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences-Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China.
² Transgenic Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
³ Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai 200237, China.

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are a group of neurological disorders characterized by the progressive dysfunction of neurons and glial cells, leading to their structural and functional degradation in the central and/or peripheral nervous system. Historically, research on NDs has primarily focused on the brain, brain stem, or spinal cord associated with disease-related symptoms, often overlooking the role of the cerebellum. However, an increasing body of clinical and biological evidence suggests a significant connection between the cerebellum and NDs. In several NDs, cerebellar pathology and biochemical changes may start in the early disease stages. This article provides a comprehensive update on the involvement of the cerebellum in the clinical features and pathogenesis of multiple NDs, suggesting that the cerebellum is involved in the onset and progression of NDs through various mechanisms, including specific neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, abnormal mitochondrial function, and altered metabolism. Additionally, this review highlights the significant therapeutic potential of cerebellum-related treatments for NDs.

Keywords: Clinical neuroscience; Neuroscience.

Publication types

Review