Mental Disorders and Illness

Nerve 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 suffi ciently 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 aff ected 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 eff ective

and non-invasive way to deliver NGF to the CNS. Th ese 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, and 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 via nasal route and open the way for new lines of research. Hence, these fi ndings suggest the ability of NGF to protect CNS neurons when administered via nasal spray.