Neuroactive Gonadal Drugs for Neuroprotection in Male and Female Models of Parkinson's Disease

The document from August 1, 2016, explores the neuroprotective potential of estrogenic drugs and 5α-reductase inhibitors in Parkinson's disease (PD), with a focus on sex differences in PD incidence and progression. It reports that estrogen and compounds like raloxifene, progesterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) have shown neuroprotective effects in animal models, potentially mediated through estrogen receptors such as GPER1. The document also notes that 5α-reductase inhibitors like Dutasteride, which are used for benign prostatic hyperplasia and androgenic alopecia, have demonstrated neuroprotective effects in male mice. The findings suggest that these compounds could be optimized for personalized PD treatments based on sex, but more research is needed to fully understand their mechanisms and effectiveness. The research was supported by grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and other scholarships.