The autophagy paradox: A new hypothesis in neurodegenerative disorders

Abstract

A recent study showed that while autophagy is usually tied to protein and organelle turnover, it can also play dual roles in neurodegenerative diseases. Traditionally, autophagy was seen as protective since it removes damaged proteins and organelles. but new data suggests autophagy can sometimes promote neuron death. and This review tackles autophagy's seemingly contradictory effects in neurodegeneration, or the "autophagy paradox. " It offers a framework for understanding autophagy in neurodegenerative research and the cellular processes involved. In short, our data uncovers a harmful autophagy role in certain situations, conflicting the view that it's always beneficial. We describe the distinct, disease-specific autophagy pathways functioning in various neurodegenerative diseases. Part two concerns potential therapeutic implications of manipulating autophagy and current strategies targeting the autophagic system, suggesting interesting areas for future research into tailored modulators. This could eventually enable activating or controlling specific autophagy pathways and aid in developing more effective treatments. Researchers believe more molecular-level research is needed so patient-tailored autophagy-modulating therapeutics can be developed given this dilemma. Moreover, research must translate faster into effective neurodegenerative disease treatment options. This article aims to provide a wholly new perspective on autophagy's classically described role in these severe diseases, challenging current dogma and opening new therapeutic avenue options.