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Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease

  • Neurology and Preclinical Neurological Studies - Review Article
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Abstract

Evidence suggests that aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH; E.C. 1.2.1.3) gene, protein expression and activity are substantially decreased in the substantia nigra of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). This holds especially true for cytosolic ALDH1A1, while mitochondrial ALDH2 is increased in the putamen of PD. Similarly, in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) several studies in genetic, transcriptomic, protein and animal models suggest ALDH involvement in the neurodegeneration processes. Such data are in line with findings of increased toxic aldehydes, like for example malondialdehyde, nonenal, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde and others. Genetic, transcriptomic and protein alterations may contribute to such data. Also in vitro and in vivo experimental work points to an important role of ALDH in the pathology of neurodegenerative disorders. Aims at investigating dysfunctions of aldehyde detoxification are suitable to define genetic/molecular targets for new therapeutic strategies balancing amine metabolism in devastating disorders like PD and probably also AD.

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The authors declare neither competing financial interests regarding this review nor conflicts of interest in respect to the content of the article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Clinics of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952, Schlieren, Switzerland

    Edna Grünblatt

  2. Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Edna Grünblatt

  3. University Hospital of Würzburg, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

    Edna Grünblatt & Peter Riederer

  4. Visiting Researcher, Institute Cognitive Brain Sciences, NCGG, Obu, Aichi, Japan

    Peter Riederer

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Correspondence to Edna Grünblatt.

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Grünblatt, E., Riederer, P. Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. J Neural Transm 123, 83–90 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-014-1320-1

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