Traditional Medicine for Preventing and Treating Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease, are a growing global health concern driven by the rise in aging populations. These disorders are characterized by progressive neuronal dysfunction and loss, leading to severe cognitive and motor decline. Conventional pharmacotherapies have thus far failed to halt disease progression and are often associated with limited efficacy and undesirable side effects. Against this backdrop, traditional medicine systems, including Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, Tibetan medicine, and various regional ethnomedicines offer rich therapeutic resources and long-standing empirical knowledge in managing symptoms like memory decline and movement disorders. Contemporary studies have revealed that numerous natural products and traditional formulas exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neurotrophic effects, providing a promising foundation for developing innovative neuroprotective interventions. However, despite increasing evidence, traditional medicine remains underrepresented in mainstream neurodegenerative research due to gaps in mechanistic understanding, challenges in standardization, and lack of international clinical validation.This Research Topic aims to provide a rigorous and integrative platform that examines and validates the preventive and therapeutic potential of traditional medicine in neurodegenerative diseases. Central objectives include investigating the efficacy and safety of traditional formulas, herbs, and bioactive compounds; elucidating multi-target mechanisms such as the regulation of autophagy, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and neural regeneration; advancing standardized diagnostic and therapeutic frameworks in accordance with evidence-based practices; and promoting the integration of traditional medical theories with modern neuroscience for the discovery of novel therapeutic lead compounds. Ultimately, this collection seeks to bridge traditional wisdom and contemporary science, contributing to the delay of neurodegenerative progression and the improvement of patient well-being.To gather further insights into the intersection of traditional medicine and neurodegeneration, we welcome studies within well-defined boundaries focused on experimental, translational, and clinical aspects of this field. We encourage contributions that enhance methodological robustness, reproducibility, and cross-disciplinary collaboration:• The Research Topic may include, but is not limited to, the following themes:• Neuroprotective properties of traditional medicinal plants, formulas, minerals, or animal-derived substances• Mechanisms and clinical effects of non-pharmacological interventions such as acupuncture, moxibustion, and tuina on neurodegenerative symptoms• Novel formulations and therapeutic strategies inspired by traditional medical theories• Multi-target network pharmacology and omics-based approaches for identifying active compounds and pathways• Interactions between traditional medicines and conventional drugs, including safety and pharmacokinetic evaluations• Methodological advancements in the standardization and quality control of traditional preparations• Translational studies linking preclinical findings to patient-oriented clinical outcomes Topic editors: Jingfeng Ouyang, 秀德 秦, Min Fu Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/82138/traditional-medicine-for-preventing-and-treating-neurodegenerative-diseases