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Volume 09

February 15-16, 2019 Amsterdam| Netherlands

Vascular Dementia

International Conference on

Vascular Dementia 2019

Journal of Alzheimers Disease & Parkinsonism | ISSN : 2161-0460

Nose-to-brain nerve growth factor delivery to protect the

human brain in frontotemporal dementia/CBS: a pilot study

erve growth factor (NGF) is the Founding Member of the neurotrophins family of

proteins, known for playing a critical protective role in the development and survival

of sympathetic, sensory and basal forebrain cholinergic neurons in mammals, including

humans. NGF has a neuroprotective action in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, as

showed by several studies in animal models and humans. NGF can be delivered to the

CNS via nasal route and has a neuroprotective action in case of neurodegenerative diseases

and brain injury. Furthermore, recent studies have shown an active link between the nasal

pathway and the spinal cord in the delivery of NGF to the CNS, thus demonstrating the

neuroprotective ability of NGF to support injured neurons in a mouse model of spinal

cord injury. Intranasal delivery of NGF has so far been sufficiently investigated in animal

models and only recently in humans, as demonstrated in a recent study on long-term

intranasal administration of NGF in two patients affected by frontotemporal dementia

associated with corticobasal syndrome (FTD/CBS) and in another study on intranasal

administration of NGF in a brain injury. These studies demonstrated the neuroprotective

role of NGF administered nasally. Intranasal administration is the most effective and non-

invasive way to deliver NGF to the CNS. These neuroprotective properties of NGF make

it a strong candidate for the future treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and other

pathologies of CNS (brain injury, spinal cord injury, ischemic damage) when administered

via nasal route. NGF would not be able to cure the FTD/CBS but these observations

support the hypothesis that NGF slows down the usual decline of the disease. However,

these studies reinforce the concept that neurotrophins are able to reach and protect the

CNS and open the way for new lines of research. Hence, these findings suggest the ability

of NGF to protect CNS neurons when administered via nasal spray.

Biography

Alberto de Bellis, Neurosurgeon, is the Founder and Chairman of Maria Rosaria Maglione Foundation onlus,

non-profit organization for Neuroscience based in Naples-Italy. The MRM Foundation runs in honor of the

founder’s mother, Maria Rosaria Maglione, who suffers from Frontotemporal Dementia. The activity of the

MRM foundation is mainly aimed at research and health care for neurodegenerative diseases and in support

of partner foundations operating in Kenya-Africa, such as the Gallmann Memorial Foundation and the African

Neurological Diseases Research Foundation. The main research activities of the MRM foundation are focused

on the study of the Nerve Growth Factor and its possible neurotherapeutic applications.

Alberto de Bellis, J Alzheimers Dis Parkinsonism 2019, Volume 09

DOI: 10.4172/2161-0460-C1-060

Alberto de Bellis

Maria Rosaria Maglione Foundation O.n.l.u.s, Italy