This book delves into the complexities of brain health, aging, and neurodegeneration, exploring the varied roles that genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors play in shaping brain health. It examines their contributions to the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. The opening chapters introduce the concept of the blood-brain barrier and its crucial role in maintaining brain health. It also discusses how this barrier is compromised with aging and in various neurodegenerative diseases, underscoring its importance in understanding disease progression. The book reviews specific conditions, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, analyzes their underlying mechanisms, and presents a range of pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments, along with emerging therapies that offer hope for the future. It also explores other neurodegenerative diseases, such as ALS, Huntington's disease, and multiple sclerosis, detailing the unique pathways that lead to neurodegeneration and the latest approaches to treatment. The chapters provide insights into brain biomarkers and diagnostic techniques that help with early detection and diagnosis of neurodegenerative conditions. Toward the end, the book discusses the challenges faced by patients and caregivers and offers strategies for support and coping. This book serves as an essential resource for neuroscientists and neurologists.
Kakarla Ramakrishna is currently working as an Assistant Professor at the KL College of Pharmacy, part of the Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation (KL University), Andhra Pradesh, India. He completed his Ph.D. from the Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology at IIT (BHU), Varanasi, UP, in 2022. Dr. Kakarla has published research and review articles in international journals and authored four chapters on neurological diseases and their management. Currently, he is working on platelets and thrombosis, neuronal damage to combat the ischemic stroke and its associated neuronal complications. Dr. Kakarla also working on identifying the natural bioactive compounds to combat Alzheimer's disease and diabetes associated brain damage through targeting oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
Sachchida Nand Rai is a Research Associate (ICMR-RA) at Centre of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi since 27th Jan 2023. Dr. Rai also completed his Ph.D from the Biochemistry Department (Institute of Science) from BHU. Before joining the BHU as Research Associate, he was post-doctoral fellow at Centre of Biotechnology, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, India. He has published several research articles in high impact journals and has published 3 books. Dr. Rai serves as editorial board member in many reputed journals. He is investigating the neuroprotective activity of common Indian medicinal plants in toxin induced Parkinsonian mouse model. He is also member of the Indian Academy of Neurosciences, (India).
Santosh Kumar Singh is a Senior Scientist at Centre of Experimental Medicine and Surgery (CEMS), Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, India. He completed his Ph.D. from the Botany Department (Institute of Science), BHU in 1998. He was a visiting scientist at Department of Photosynthesis, Institute of Physical Biology, University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic, in 2003. He has published more than 75 research articles in high impact factor journal and has published several books. Drug Discovery & Development, Microbial Biotechnology and Nanobiotechnology are some of his major areas of research. He is also Lifetime member of Mycological society of India, Lifetime member of Society of Biological Chemists, India, Member of the Society for Ethnopharmacology, Kolkata, India (SFE-INDIA). He also participated as resource person in Karyashala Training Course Under Accelerate Vigyan Scheme, SERB, DST. He was awarded with "National Award for "Outstanding Efforts in Science and Technology Communication through Innovative and Traditional methods (2021)" conferred by Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. He has received the order of academic excellence in publication (2020-2021), Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.
Veer Singh is currently working as Young Scientist (DHR) at the Department of Biochemistry, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India. He got PhD from the Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. He has published more than 40 research articles in international and national journals of high repute. His area of work involves environmental contamination & toxicity, the role of drinking water heavy metals contamination in visceral leishmaniasis (VL) & post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) development.
