Free Radicals in the Brain

Free radicals appear to play a mojor role in many neurological (and non neurological) dieseases. Both acute and degenerative disorders are thought to involve free radicals reactions in tissue injury (for a list see this book page 18). This issue is very important for basic science and for therapeuthic approach as well. In order to review and discuss the place of free radicals in psychiatry and neurology, a joint meeting was initiated by the World Health Organization and the Fondation Ipsen in Paris on June 17-18,1991. This book contains the papers presented during this meeting. Although the papers included in this volume have been produced in the framework of WHO/Fondation Ipsen review of knowledge about free radicals and brain disorders, they express the views of the individual authors rather than a consensus of the participants at the meeting. They do not necessarily represent the decision or stated policy of the World Health Organiszation or the Fondation Ipsen. The editors wish to express their appreciation to Mrs Mervaillie for the organization of the meeting and Mrs M.-L. Gage for her editorial assis tance. L. Packer, L. Prilipko, Y Christen Contents Free Radical Scavengers and Antioxidants in Prophylaxy and Treatment of Brain Diseases L. Packer ........................................... 1 Reactive Oxygen Species and the Central Nervous System B. Halliwell .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 . . . . . . . . .

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There is an increasing body of literature suggesting that atsome stage during the development of most human diseasesfree radicals may be involved,and therefore retarded byantioxidants. Although in some cases this evidenceis onlycircumstantial, it is becoming overwhelming. In particular,certain brain disorders and aging itself appear to involvefree radicals and free radical reactions in generatingdamage associated with chronic degenerative disorders. Withrespect to the brain, examples are epilepsy, Alzheimer'sdisease, Parkinson's disease, tardive dyskinesia, aging ofthe brain, and others. Thus, the idea that antioxidantintervention may help to prevent or retard brain disordersis an area of increasing interest. As a result, this bookshould find wide interest in the biomedical field and is ofparticular importance for the neurosciences.

Contenu
Free Radical Scavengers and Antioxidants in Prophylaxy and Treatment of Brain Diseases.- Reactive Oxygen Species and the Central Nervous System.- Protection Against Peroxidation by Radicals in Cerebral Capillaries and Microvessels During Aging.- Antioxidant Protection of the Brain Against Oxidative Stress.- Antioxidant Deficiency and Neurological Disease in Humans and Experimental Animals.- Essential Fatty Acids and Alpha-Tocopherol Supplementation in Tardive Dyskinesia (TD).- Role of Free Radicals in Alzheimer's Disease and Down's Syndrome.- Dopaminergic Cell Death in Parkinson's Disease.- Posttraumatic Epilepsy, Free Radicals and Antioxidant Therapy.- Lipid Peroxidation in the Pathology of the Retina.- Free Radical Activity in Chronic Ethanol Intoxication in Humans.- The Possible Role of Lipid Peroxidation in the Pathophysiology of Mental Disorders.- Side-Effects of Psychotropic Therapy.- Lipid Peroxidation and Antioxidants in Childhood Epilepsy.