FibrilPaint as a novel tool to unravel the molecular mechanism of neurodegenerative diseases

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson’s Disease and Huntington’s Disease, are a group of disorders characterised by the aberrant formation and accumulation of amyloid fibrils. This results in neuronal loss, and a subsequent onset of the symptoms including impaired cognition, behaviour, sensor or motor function. These diseases affect 55 million people worldwide. Yet, there are no effective therapies. The mechanism underlying disease development and progression is not fully understood, hindering the rational design of disease-modifying therapies. This thesis provides a mechanistic perspective on the development of molecules, named FibrilPaint, with various applications for neurodegenerative diseases. FibrilPaint is a very attractive starting point for the development of compounds with diagnostic and therapeutic applications for amyloid related diseases.