BACE1 RNAi Restores the Composition of Phosphatidylethanolamine-Derivates Related to Memory Improvement in Aged 3xTg-AD Mice

Cognitive improvements linked to lysophosphatidylethanolamine after olanzapine treatment in drug-naïve first-episode schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

Cognitive impairments are a hallmark symptom of schizophrenia (SCZ). Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) is the second most abundant phospholipid in mammalian cells, yet its role in cognitive deficits remains unexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between plasma LysoPE and cognitive improvements following olanzapine monotherapy in drug-naïve first-episode (DNFE) SCZ patients.

METHODS

Twenty-five female DNFE SCZ patients were treated with olanzapine for four weeks, and cognitive function was assessed using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) at baseline and after the 4-week follow-up. Utilizing an untargeted ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS)-based metabolomics approach, we measured LysoPE concentrations.

RESULTS

Significant improvements in immediate and delayed memory domains were observed post-treatment. We identified nine differential LysoPE species after olanzapine monotherapy, with increased concentrations for all LysoPE except LysoPE (22:6). Elevated LysoPE (22:1) concentration positively correlated with cognitive improvement in patients. Baseline LysoPE (16:1) emerged as a predictive factor for cognitive improvement following olanzapine monotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

This study offers preliminary evidence for the involvement of LysoPE in cognitive improvements observed in drug-naïve first-episode SCZ patients after olanzapine treatment.

Integrative brain omics approach reveals key role for sn-1 lysophosphatidylethanolamine in Alzheimer's dementia

The biology of individual lipid species and their relevance in Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains incompletely understood. We utilized non-targeted mass spectrometry to examine brain lipids variations across 316 post-mortem brains from participants in the Religious Orders Study (ROS) or Rush Memory and Aging Project (MAP) cohorts classified as either control, asymptomatic AD (AAD), or symptomatic AD (SAD) and integrated the lipidomics data with untargeted proteomic characterization on the same individuals. Lipid enrichment analysis and analysis of variance identified significantly lower abundance of lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) species in SAD than controls or AAD. Lipid-protein co-expression network analyses revealed that lipid modules consisting of LPE and LPC exhibited a significant association to protein modules associated with MAPK/metabolism, post-synaptic density, and Cell-ECM interaction pathways and were associated with better antemortem cognition and with neuropathological changes seen in AD. Particularly, LPE 22:6 [sn-1] levels are significantly decreased across AD cases (SAD) and show the most influence on protein changes compared to other lysophospholipid species. LPE 22:6 may be a lipid signature for AD and could be leveraged as potential therapeutic or dietary targets for AD.

BACE1 and SCD1 are associated with neurodegeneration

Introduction

Proteolytic processing of amyloid protein precursor by β-site secretase enzyme (BACE1) is dependent on the cellular lipid composition and is affected by endomembrane trafficking in dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) is responsible for the synthesis of fatty acid monounsaturation (MUFAs), whose accumulation is strongly associated with cognitive dysfunction.

Methods

In this study, we analyzed the relationship between BACE1 and SCD1 in vivo and in vitro neurodegenerative models and their association in familial AD (FAD), sporadic AD (SAD), and cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) using microscopy, biochemical, and mass SPECT approach.

Results

Our findings showed that BACE1 and SCD1 immunoreactivities were increased and colocalized in astrocytes of the hippocampus in a rat model of global cerebral ischemia (2-VO). A synergistic effect of double BACE1/SCD1 silencing on the recovery of motor and cognitive functions was obtained. This neuroprotective regulation involved the segregation of phospholipids (PLs) associated with polyunsaturated fatty acids in the hippocampus, cerebrospinal fluid, and serum. The double silencing in the sham and ischemic groups was stronger in the serum, inducing an inverse ratio between total phosphatydilcholine (PC) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), represented mainly by the reduction of PC 38:4 and PC 36:4 and an increase in LPC 16:0 and LPC 18:0. Furthermore, PC 38:4 and PC:36:4 levels augmented in pathological conditions in in vitro AD models. BACE1 and SCD1 increases were confirmed in the hippocampus of FAD, SAD, and CADASIL.

Conclusion

Therefore, the findings suggest a novel convergence of BACE-1 and SCD1 in neurodegeneration, related to pro-inflammatory phospholipids.

Leukotriene signaling as molecular correlate for cognitive heterogeneity in aging: an exploratory study

Introduction

Aging is in general associated with a decline in cognitive functions. Looking more closely, there is a huge heterogeneity in the extent of cognitive (dys-)abilities in the aged population. It ranges from the population of resistant, resilient, cognitively unimpaired individuals to patients with severe forms of dementias. Besides the known genetic, environmental and life style factors that shape the cognitive (dys-)abilities in aging, the underlying molecular mechanisms and signals related to cognitive heterogeneity are completely unknown. One putative mechanism underlying cognitive heterogeneity might be neuroinflammation, exerted through microglia, the brain's innate immune cells, as neuroinflammation is central to brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, leukotrienes (LTs), i.e., small lipid mediators of inflammation produced by microglia along aging and neurodegeneration, got in the focus of geroscience as they might determine cognitive dysfunctions in aging.

Methods

Here, we analyzed the brain's expression of key components of the LT synthesis pathway, i.e., the expression of 5-lipoxygenase (5-Lox), the key enzyme in LT production, and 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (FLAP) in young and aged rats. More specifically, we used a cohort of rats, which, although grown up and housed under identical conditions, developed into aged cognitively unimpaired and aged cognitively impaired traits.

Results

Expression of 5-Lox was increased within the brain of aged rats with the highest levels detected in cognitively impaired animals. The number of microglia cells was higher in the aged compared to the young brains with, again, the highest numbers of 5-Lox expressing microglia in the aged cognitively impaired rats. Remarkably, lower cognitive scores in the aged rats associated with higher numbers of 5-Lox positive microglia in the animals. Similar data were obtained for FLAP, at least in the cortex. Our data indicate elevated levels of the LT system in the brain of cognitively impaired animals.

Discussion

We conclude that 5-Lox expressing microglia potentially contribute to the age-related cognitive decline in the brain, while low levels of the LT system might indicate and foster higher cognitive functions and eventually cognitive reserve and resilience in aging.

Beta-Secretase 1 Underlies Reactive Astrocytes and Endothelial Disruption in Neurodegeneration

Dysfunction in the neurovascular unit (NVU) is a key component in the progressive deterioration of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is critical in vascular dementia. Recent studies have shown that inflammation plays early and perhaps causal roles in the pathogenesis of AD related to NVU damage, possibly in part by overactivating the aspartic acid protease activity of β-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), which until now has almost solely been studied in the context of the β-amyloid cascade. In this study, we analyzed the relationship of BACE1 with astrocytes and blood vessels in human brains with sporadic and familial dementia [Autosomal dominant cerebral arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), sporadic Alzheimer's disease (SAD), and familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD)] and how BACE1 inhibition affects astrocytes and endothelial cells under conditions of glutamate toxicity. Our results show increased BACE1, PHF (Paired helical filaments)-tau and GFAP (Glial Fibrillary Acid Protein) immunoreactivity (IR) in the CA1 hippocampal regions of FAD and SAD brains. Furthermore, BACE1 immunoprecipitated with GFAP in tissue samples from all study cases, but their immunofluorescence close to (10 μm³) or overlapping blood vessels was only increased in FAD and SAD brains, and PHF-tau was present around the vessels mainly in FAD brains. Interestingly, the increased BACE1 levels were associated with reactive astrocytes, characterized by morphological changes and upregulation of GFAP under pathological and stressful conditions, and endothelial disruption by glutamate excitotoxicity, and these effects were reversed by BACE1 inhibition; further, BACE1-inhibited astrocytes protected endothelial cell integrity by preserving zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) distribution and decreasing the expression of inflammatory markers. Taken together, these findings suggest that BACE1 dysregulation in astrocytes may have a role in the alterations in NVU integrity implicated in neurodegeneration.

Abundant oleoyl-lysophosphatidylethanolamine in brain stimulates neurite outgrowth and protects against glutamate toxicity in cultured cortical neurons

Lysophosphatidylethanolamines (LPEs) are bioactive lysophospholipids that have been suggested to play important roles in several biological processes. We performed a quantitative analysis of LPE species and showed their composition in mouse brain. We examined the roles of oleoyl-LPE (18:1 LPE), which is one of the abundant LPE species in brain. In cultured cortical neurons, application of 18:1 LPE stimulated neurite outgrowth. The effect of 18:1 LPE on neurite outgrowth was inhibited by Gq/11 inhibitor YM-254890, phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor U73122, protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor Go6983, or mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor U0126. Additionally, 18:1 LPE increased the phosphorylation of MAPK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. These results suggest that the action of 18:1 LPE on neurite outgrowth is mediated by the Gq/11/PLC/PKC/MAPK pathway. Moreover, we found that application of 18:1 LPE protects neurons from glutamate-induced excitotoxicity. This effect of 18:1 LPE was suppressed by PKC inhibitor Go6983. These results suggest that 18:1 LPE protects neurons from glutamate toxicity via PKC inhibitor Go6983-sensitive PKC subtype. Collectively, our results demonstrated that 18:1 LPE stimulates neurite outgrowth and protects against glutamate toxicity in cultured cortical neurons. Our findings provide insights into the physiological or pathological roles of 18:1 LPE in the brain.

Structurally different lysophosphatidylethanolamine species stimulate neurite outgrowth in cultured cortical neurons via distinct G-protein-coupled receptors and signaling cascades

Neurite outgrowth is important in neuronal circuit formation and functions, and for regeneration of neuronal networks following trauma and disease in the brain. Thus, identification and characterization of the molecules that regulate neurite outgrowth are essential for understanding how brain circuits form and function and for the development of treatment of neurological disorders. In this study, we found that structurally different lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE) species, palmitoyl-LPE (16:0 LPE) and stearoyl-LPE (18:0 LPE), stimulate neurite growth in cultured cortical neurons. Interestingly, YM-254890, an inhibitor of Gq/11 protein, inhibited 16:0 LPE-stimulated neurite outgrowth but not 18:0 LPE-stimulated neurite outgrowth. In contrast, pertussis toxin, an inhibitor of Gi/Go proteins, inhibited 18:0 LPE-stimulated neurite outgrowth but not 16:0 LPE-stimulated neurite outgrowth. The effects of protein kinase C inhibitors on neurite outgrowth were also different. In addition, both 16:0 LPE and 18:0 LPE activate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, but the effect of the MAPK inhibitor differed between the 16:0 LPE- and 18:0 LPE-treated cultures. Collectively, the results suggest that the structurally different LPE species, 16:0 LPE and 18:0 LPE stimulate neurite outgrowth through distinct signaling cascades in cultured cortical neurons and that distinct G protein-coupled receptors are involved in these processes.

Bioactive lipids, inflammation and chronic diseases

Endogenous bioactive lipids are part of a complex network that modulates a plethora of cellular and molecular processes involved in health and disease, of which inflammation represents one of the most prominent examples. Inflammation serves as a well-conserved defence mechanism, triggered in the event of chemical, mechanical or microbial damage, that is meant to eradicate the source of damage and restore tissue function. However, excessive inflammatory signals, or impairment of pro-resolving/anti-inflammatory pathways leads to chronic inflammation, which is a hallmark of chronic pathologies. All main classes of endogenous bioactive lipids - namely eicosanoids, specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators, lysoglycerophopsholipids and endocannabinoids - have been consistently involved in the chronic inflammation that characterises pathologies such as cancer, diabetes, atherosclerosis, asthma, as well as autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders and inflammatory bowel diseases. This review gathers the current knowledge concerning the involvement of endogenous bioactive lipids in the pathogenic processes of chronic inflammatory pathologies.

Differences in Hypothalamic Lipid Profiles of Young and Aged Male Rats With Impaired and Unimpaired Spatial Cognitive Abilities and Memory

Lipids play a major role for several brain functions, including cognition and memory. There is a series of work on individual lipids showing involvement in memory mechanisms, a concise lipidome was not reported so far. Moreover, there is no evidence for age-related memory decline and there is only work on brain of young vs. aging animals. Aging animals, however, are not a homogeneous group with respect to memory impairments, thus animals with impaired and unimpaired memory can be discriminated. Following recent studies of hippocampal lipid profiles and hypothalamus controlled hormone profiles, the aim of this study was to compare hypothalamic, lipidomic changes in male Sprague-Dawley rats between young (YM), old impaired (OMI) and old unimpaired (OMU) males. Grouping criterions for aged rats were evaluated by testing them in a spatial memory task, the hole-board. YMs were also tested. Subsequently brains were removed, dissected and hypothalami were kept at −80°C until sample preparation and analysis on liquid chromatography / mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Significant differences in the amounts of a series of lipids from several classes could be detected between young and aged and between OMI and OMU. A large number of lipids were increased in OMI and a smaller number in OMU as compared to young rats. Differences of lipid ratios (log2 of ratio) between OMI and OMU consisted of glycerophosphocholines (aPC 36:2 and 36:3; PC 34:0, 36:1, 36:3 and 40:2); Glycerophosphoethanolamines (aPE 34:2, 38:5 and 40:5; LPE 18:1, 20:1, 20:4, 22:4 and 22:6; PE36:1 and 38:4); glycerophosphoserines (PS 36:1, 40:4, and 40:6); triacylglycerol TG 52:4; ceramide Cer 17:2 and sphingomyelin SM 20:0. Thus, hypothalamic lipid profiles across different lipid classes discriminate aged male animals into OMU and OMI. The underlying mechanisms may be related to different functional networks of lipids in memory mechanisms and differences in metabolic processes. The study underlines the importance of lipidomics in the pathophysiology of age-related cognitive decline. The necessity of evaluating the cognitive status of aged subjects by behavioral tests results in more specific detection of critical lipids in memory decline, on which now can be focused in subsequent memory studies in animals and humans.

Integrated Metabolomic and Lipidomic Analysis Reveals the Neuroprotective Mechanisms of Bushen Tiansui Formula in an Aβ1-42-Induced Rat Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Bushen Tiansui Formula (BSTSF) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription. It has been widely applied to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the clinic; however, the mechanisms underlying its effects remain largely unknown. In this study, we used a rat AD model to study the effects of BSTSF on cognitive performance, and UPLC-MS/MS-based metabolomic and lipidomic analysis was further performed to identify significantly altered metabolites in the cerebral cortices of AD rats and determine the effects of BSTSF on the metabolomic and lipidomic profiles in the cerebral cortices of these animals. The results revealed that the levels of 47 metabolites and 30 lipids primarily associated with sphingolipid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and linoleic acid metabolism were significantly changed in the cerebral cortices of AD rats. Among the altered lipids, ceramides, phosphatidylethanolamines, lysophosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylcholines, lysophosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylserines, sphingomyelins, and phosphatidylglycerols showed robust changes. Moreover, 34 differential endogenous metabolites and 21 lipids, of which the levels were mostly improved in the BSTSF treatment group, were identified as potential therapeutic targets of BSTSF against AD. Our results suggest that lipid metabolism is highly dysregulated in the cerebral cortices of AD rats, and BSTSF may exert its neuroprotective mechanisms by restoring metabolic balance, including that of sphingolipid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, and D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism. Our data may lead to a deeper understanding of the AD-associated metabolic profile and shed new light on the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effects of BSTSF.

Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta suppresses BACE1 expression by up-regulating SOCS1 in a JAK2/STAT1-dependent manner

Neuronal expression of beta-secretase 1 (BACE1) has been implicated in the progression of Alzheimer's disease. However, the mechanisms that regulate BACE1 expression are unclear. Here, we show that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARδ) decreases BACE1 expression by up-regulating suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. The activation of PPARδ by GW501516, a specific PPARδ agonist, inhibited expression of BACE1. This effect was abrogated by shRNA-mediated knockdown of PPARδ and by treatment with the PPARδ antagonist GSK0660, indicating that PPARδ is involved in GW501516-mediated suppression of BACE1 expression. On the other hand, GW501516-activated PPARδ induced expression of SOCS1, which is a negative regulator of cytokine signal transduction, at the transcriptional level by binding to a PPAR response element in its promoter. This GW501516-mediated induction of SOCS1 expression led to down-regulation of BACE1 expression via inactivation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1. GW501516-activated PPARδ suppressed the generation of neurotoxic amyloid beta (Aβ) in accordance with the decrease in BACE1 expression. Taken together, these results indicate that PPARδ attenuates BACE1 expression via SOCS1-mediated inhibition of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 signaling, thereby suppressing BACE1-associated generation of neurotoxic Aβ.

Inverse Phosphatidylcholine/Phosphatidylinositol Levels as Peripheral Biomarkers and Phosphatidylcholine/Lysophosphatidylethanolamine-Phosphatidylserine as Hippocampal Indicator of Postischemic Cognitive Impairment in Rats

Vascular dementia is a transversal phenomenon in different kinds of neurodegenerative diseases involving acute and chronic brain alterations. Specifically, the role of phospholipids in the pathogenesis of dementia remains unknown. In the present study, we explored phospholipid profiles a month postischemia in cognitively impaired rats. The two-vessel occlusion (2-VO) model was used to generate brain parenchyma ischemia in adult male rats confirmed by alterations in myelin, endothelium, astrocytes and inflammation mediator. A lipidomic analysis was performed via mass spectrometry in the hippocampus and serum a month postischemia. We found decreases in phospholipids (PLs) associated with neurotransmission, such as phosphatidylcholine (PC 32:0, PC 34:2, PC 36:3, PC 36:4, and PC 42:1), and increases in PLs implied in membrane structure and signaling, such as lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE 18:1, 20:3, and 22:6) and phosphatidylserine (PS 38:4, 36:2, and 40:4), in the hippocampus. Complementarily, PC (PC 34:2, PC 34:3, PC 38:5, and PC 36:5) and ether-PC (ePC 34:1, 34:2, 36:2, 38:2, and 38:3) decreased, while Lyso-PC (LPC 18:0, 18:1, 20:4, 20:5, and LPC 22:6) and phosphatidylinositol (PI 36:2, 38:4, 38:5, and 40:5), as neurovascular state sensors, increased in the serum. Taken together, these data suggest inverse PC/LPC-PI levels as peripheral biomarkers and inverse PC/LPE-PS as a central indicator of postischemic cognitive impairment in rats.

cPLA2 and desaturases underlie the tau hyperphosphorylation offset induced by BACE knock-down in neuronal primary cultures

Inflammation has been suggested to play early and perhaps causative roles in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis possibly in part by the overactivation of the aspartic acid protease named β-site amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), which is responsible for the β-amyloid cascade. We have described that BACE1 is involved in the lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE) (18:1/20:4/22:6) upregulation associated with tauopathy and inflammation signaling (cPLA2/arachidonic acid/COX2) in a triple transgenic model of Alzheimer's disease, where BACE1 silencing reversed the imbalanced profile and produced cognitive function improvement. In this study, we analyze the role of cPLA2 and desaturases (SCD1, FAD6) in the BACE1 knockdown-induced protective action under a glutamate excitotoxicity model. Glutamate (125 μM) produced hyperphosphorylation of tau in cortical primary cultures along with increased apoptotic nuclei, LDH release, and cPLA2 expression, which were all reversed by BACE1-KD. This beneficial effect was reinforced by the silencing of cPLA2 but attenuated by the reduction in SCD1 and partially attenuated by the reduction in FAD6. Inversely, overexpression SCD1 and FAD6 recovered the neuroprotective effect produced by BACE1-KD, which was not achieved by the overexpression of each desaturase alone. These findings suggest that the hyperphosphorylation of tau and the creation of a pro-inflammatory cell environment are blocked in a desaturase-dependent manner by targeting BACE1.

Differential Pattern of Phospholipid Profile in the Temporal Cortex from E280A-Familiar and Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease Brains

Lipids are considered important factors in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, we realized a comparative analysis of the phospholipid profile and phospholipid composition of the temporal cortex from E280A-familiar AD (FAD), sporadic AD (SAD), and healthy human brains. Findings showed a significant decrease of lysophosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine formed by low levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (20 : 4, 22 : 6) in AD brains. However, phosphatidylethanolamine-ceramide and phosphoglycerol were significantly increased in SAD, conformed by high levels of (18 : 0/18 : 1) and (30/32/36 : 0/1/2), respectively. Together, the findings suggest a deficiency in lysophosphacholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, and alteration in the balance between poly- and unsaturated fatty acids in both types of AD, and a differential pattern of phospholipid profile and fatty acid composition between E280A FAD and SAD human brains.

Changes in the hippocampal and peripheral phospholipid profiles are associated with neurodegeneration hallmarks in a long-term global cerebral ischemia model: Attenuation by Linalool

Phospholipid alterations in the brain are associated with progressive neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment after acute and chronic injuries. Various types of treatments have been evaluated for their abilities to block the progression of the impairment, but effective treatments targeting long-term post-stroke alterations are not available. In this study, we analyzed changes in the central and peripheral phospholipid profiles in ischemic rats and determined whether a protective monoterpene, Linalool, could modify them. We used an in vitro model of glutamate (125 μM) excitotoxicity and an in vivo global ischemia model in Wistar rats. Linalool (0.1 μM) protected neurons and astrocytes by reducing LDH release and restoring ATP levels. Linalool was administered orally at a dose of 25 mg/kg every 24 h for a month, behavioral tests were performed, and a lipidomic analysis was conducted using mass spectrometry. Animals treated with Linalool displayed faster neurological recovery than untreated ischemic animals, accompanied by better motor and cognitive performances. These results were confirmed by the significant reduction in astrogliosis, microgliosis and COX-2 marker, involving a decrease of 24:0 free fatty acid in the hippocampus. The altered profiles of phospholipids composed of mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PC 36:1; 42:1 (24:0/18:1)/LPC 22:6)/LPE 22:6) in the ischemic hippocampus and the upregulation of PI 36:2 and other LCFA (long chain fatty acids) in the serum of ischemic rats were prevented by the monoterpene. Based on these data, alterations in the central and peripheral phospholipid profiles after long-term was attenuated by oral Linalool, promoting a phospholipid homeostasis, related to the recovery of brain function.

Dementia, Preclinical Studies in Neurodegeneration and its Potential for Translational Medicine in South America

Latin-American people with dementia will increase to an astounding 368% in 2050, higher than USA and Europe. In addition, to sporadic dementia type like Alzheimer, and vascular dementia (VaD) progression after Cerebrovascular disease is also found. These incidences are increased in Colombia by specific populations affected with pure Neurodegenerative and VaDs like Autosomical Dominant familial Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Cerebral Autosomal-Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL). In spite of the enormous human effort with and economical effort and investment costs, neither sporadic nor genetic kinds of dementia progression have been prevented or blocked yet. Currently, there exist several animal models that partially solve the understanding of the neurodegenerative etiopathogenesis and its treatment. However, when the potential therapies are translated to humans, those do not work or present a limited action. Main difficulties are the diverse comorbility associated to the cause and/or several affected brain regions, reducing the efficacy of some therapies which are limited to a tissue-specific action or modulating a kind of neurotransmission. Global investigation suggests that a general prevention could be achieved with the improvement in the quality of lifestyle, including healthy diet, physical and mental activity, and avoiding mechanical or chemical pro-inflammatory events in an early stage in the most of non-communicable diseases. In this review article, we present some molecular targets and preclinical studies in animal models to propose strategies that could be useful in a future translation to prevent or block neurodegeneration: one is gene therapy; silencing pathogenic genes in critical brain areas where excitotoxicity arise and spread. Another is to take advantage of the natural source and its wide biodiversity of natural products that are capable of identifying, by the blocking and prevention of neurodegeneration. On the other side, the casuistic of pure dementias in the Latin-American region gives an exceptional opportunity to understand the pathogenesis in these human populations. Further, this is in support of the basic and clinical researchers working on an interaction for a better understanding and medical care of mixed dementias, which have more complex factors than pure ones. However, to promote the translation of any therapeutical alternative is necessary to clarify the normative and the protocols for developing clinical trials with original candidates or work upon strategies proposed from South-American countries.