Recent Breakthroughs in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders

Authors

  • Alexander M. Curtis The First Academy
  • Ava Charlotte Curtis
  • Ira J. Goodman, MD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v12i3.4808

Keywords:

neurodegenerative disorders, biomarker, disease modifying treatments, Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Parkinson's Disease (PD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), beta-amyloid, hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau), alpha-synuclein, TAR DNA binding protein (TDP-43), FDA accelerated approval

Abstract

This paper covers recent breakthroughs in diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, specifically diagnostic biomarkers and disease modifying treatments for Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Parkinson's Disease (PD) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Biomarkers in the brain, spinal fluid and blood are helping identify the pathologic misfolded proteins that specifically characterize these neurodegenerative disorders. The signature proteins include beta-amyloid and hyperphosphorylated tau (P-tau) in AD, alpha-synuclein in PD, and recently discovered in ALS, TDP-43. As new biomarkers are validated, there is increasing optimism that innovative disease modifying treatments will prevent, reverse or delay the progression of these neurodegenerative diseases. The growing trend of FDA approval of medications through the Accelerated Approval program based on biomarker indicators is expediting drug development for AD, PD, and ALS.  Using this pathway, the FDA has granted conditional approval for an AD treatment that lowers brain amyloid and another AD treatment that is associated in studies with slowing of both cognitive and functional loss. The FDA also granted conditional approval for an ALS treatment demonstrating reduction in a neurodegeneration biomarker. The FDA granted Breakthrough Device designation for a blood test as a diagnostic biomarker for AD and the recent breakthrough in the ability to diagnose PD with an accurate biomarker is a major milestone.  Continued collaboration among the drug discovery and clinical research communities is needed to accelerate our understanding of the underlying biology and develop disease modifying treatments for these neurodegenerative disorders. 

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Author Biography

Ira J. Goodman, MD

Ira Goodman, MD, is a Board-Certified adult Neurologist with a special interest in neurodegenerative diseases. He received his MD degree from the Medical College of Pennsylvania and completed his Neurology Residency at the University of Florida in 1983. He has practiced Neurology in the Central Florida area for over 35 years and in addition to Private Practice Neurology has been very active in Medical Education. He was a Director of Medical Education at Orlando Health for many years and has faculty appointments in the Departments of Medicine and Neurology at the University of Florida, Florida State University and the University of Central Florida. In addition, Dr. Goodman has participated in the AdventHealth Geriatric Fellowship Program.  

Dr. Goodman developed and was Director of the State funded Memory Disorder Center of Central Florida at Orlando Health until 2011. He has been and is currently extensively involved in Clinical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, being Principal Investigator (PI) and conducting dozens and dozens of Clinical Research Trials over the years. He has authored multiple publications and has presented to multiple audiences, including the FDA. He has also worked with numerous Pharmaceutical Companies in the development and writing of Clinical Trial Protocols and has and currently sits on numerous Pharmaceutical Company Advisory Boards. Most recently, Dr. Goodman has accepted the position of CMO for SiteRx, a Clinical Trial Recruitment platform that facilitates patient access to Clinical Research. Dr. Goodman has been recognized by Orlando Magazine for over 20 consecutive years in their annual “Top Doctors” issue and has appeared in numerous media outlets.

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Published

08-31-2023

How to Cite

Curtis, A., Curtis , A., & Goodman , I. (2023). Recent Breakthroughs in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders. Journal of Student Research, 12(3). https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v12i3.4808

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 3 (2023)

Section

HS Review Articles

Copyright (c) 2023 Alexander M. Curtis , Ava Charlotte Curtis ; Ira J. Goodman, MD

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