neuroprotection

neuroprotection

[noo͡r′ō·prō·tek′shən]

protection against neurotoxicity.

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neuroprotection

A therapeutic strategy aimed at preventing the ultimate result of a neurodegenerative disease process. Example: in current glaucoma therapy, the principal objective is to lower the intraocular pressure, but that appears to be only one of the risk factors that lead ultimately to shrinkage and/or death of retinal ganglion cells and visual field loss. Visual field losses occur even after the intraocular pressure is returned to within the normal range in some patients. Neuroprotection is aimed at preventing that secondary ganglion cell degeneration in glaucomatous eyes, which may have been caused as a result of inflammatory or toxic mediators released by the primary degenerative event. Neuroprotective strategies presently being evaluated include glutamate antagonists, calcium channel blockers, nitric oxide synthase inhibitors and neurotrophins.