Glutamate Related Biomarkers For Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Glutamate is the most pervasive neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS). Despite this fact, no validated biological markers, or biomarkers, currently exist for measuring glutamate pathology in CNS disorders or injuries. Glutamate dysfunction has been associated with an extensive range of nervous system diseases and disorders. Problems with how the neurotransmitter glutamate functions in the brain have been linked to a wide variety of disorders, including schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, substance abuse, and traumatic brain injury. These conditions are widespread, affecting a large portion of the United States population, and remain difficult to treat. Efforts to understand, treat, and prevent glutamate-related disorders can be aided by the identification of valid biomarkers. The Institute of Medicine's Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders held a workshop on June 21-22, 2010, to explore ways to accelerate the development, validation, and implementation of such biomarkers. Glutamate-Related Biomarkers in Drug Development for Disorders of the Nervous System: Workshop Summary investigates promising current and emerging technologies, and outlines strategies to procure resources and tools to advance drug development for associated nervous system disorders. Moreover, this report highlights presentations by expert panelists, and the open panel discussions that occurred during the workshop.

Glutamate is the most pervasive neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS). Despite this fact, no validated biological markers, or biomarkers, currently exist for measuring glutamate pathology in CNS disorders or injuries. Glutamate dysfunction has been associated with an extensive range of nervous system diseases and disorders. Problems with how the neurotransmitter glutamate functions in the brain have been linked to a wide variety of disorders, including schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, substance abuse, and traumatic brain injury. These conditions are widespread, affecting a large portion of the United States population, and remain difficult to treat. Efforts to understand, treat, and prevent glutamate-related disorders can be aided by the identification of valid biomarkers. The Institute of Medicine's Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders held a workshop on June 21-22, 2010, to explore ways to accelerate the development, validation, and implementation of such biomarkers. Glutamate-Related Biomarkers in Drug Development for Disorders of the Nervous System: Workshop Summary investigates promising current and emerging technologies, and outlines strategies to procure resources and tools to advance drug development for associated nervous system disorders. Moreover, this report highlights presentations by expert panelists, and the open panel discussions that occurred during the workshop.

This volume provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in targeting glutamate signaling for the treatment of major psychiatric and neurological disorders. It draws on the latest findings in glutamate neurobiology and offers valuable insights into the application of translational principles in neuroscience drug discovery and development. In each chapter, glutamate as a neurotransmitter, its receptors and transporters, and their interplay with other neurotransmitters and neurotrophic factors, are discussed in the context of a specific, highly prevalent and disabling CNS disease. Most recent and detailed information is provided on Ischemic Stroke, Chronic Stress, Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Alzheimer’s Dementia, Schizophrenia, Impulsive Aggression, Substance Use Disorders (SUD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Chronic Pain, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Migraine, Epilepsy and Anxiety disorders. Moreover, the book includes an extensive overview of glutamatergic treatments already available on the market, and those which are currently in pharmaceutical drug development pipelines. The primary beneficiaries will be neurology and psychiatry specialists and residents, neuroscientists, neuropharmacologists, pharmaceutical industry and clinical research organization professionals, academics, and clinicians working with psychiatric and neurological patients with comorbidities such as cardiologists, pulmonologists, and endocrinologists. This book will also appeal to psychiatry and neurology subspecialists and clinicians working in neuroscience labs seeking an easy-to-understand yet comprehensive overview of contemporary evidence-based clinical insights backed by basic science (preclinical) research evidence. Given its scope, the book is also a unique and indispensable resource for both preclinical and clinical neuroscientists, medical advisors, and clinical research specialists in the pharmaceutical industry. In addition, it will appeal to neuroscience and neuropsychopharmacology students and guide them through the complexities of glutamate involvement in the pathophysiology of the most common debilitating brain diseases with high unmet medical needs.

Every year, an estimated 1.7 million Americans sustain brain injury. Long-term disabilities impact nearly half of moderate brain injury survivors and nearly 50,000 of these cases result in death. Brain Neurotrauma: Molecular, Neuropsychological, and Rehabilitation Aspects provides a comprehensive and up-to-date account on the latest developments in the area of neurotrauma, including brain injury pathophysiology, biomarker research, experimental models of CNS injury, diagnostic methods, and neurotherapeutic interventions as well as neurorehabilitation strategies in the field of neurotraum research. The book includes several sections on neurotrauma mechanisms, biomarker discovery, neurocognitive/neurobehavioral deficits, and neurorehabilitation and treatment approaches. It also contains a section devoted to models of mild CNS injury, including blast and sport-related injuries. Over the last decade, the field of neurotrauma has witnessed significant advances, especially at the molecular, cellular, and behavioral levels. This progress is largely due to the introduction of novel techniques, as well as the development of new animal models of central nervous system (CNS) injury. This book, with its diverse coherent content, gives you insight into the diverse and heterogeneous aspects of CNS pathology and/or rehabilitation needs.

With recent studies using genetic, epigenetic, and other molecular and neurochemical approaches, a new era has begun in understanding pathophysiology of suicide. Emerging evidence suggests that neurobiological factors are not only critical in providing potential risk factors but also provide a promising approach to develop more effective treatment and prevention strategies. The Neurobiological Basis of Suicide discusses the most recent findings in suicide neurobiology. Psychological, psychosocial, and cultural factors are important in determining the risk factors for suicide; however, they offer weak prediction and can be of little clinical use. Interestingly, cognitive characteristics are different among depressed suicidal and depressed nonsuicidal subjects, and could be involved in the development of suicidal behavior. The characterization of the neurobiological basis of suicide is in delineating the risk factors associated with suicide. The Neurobiological Basis of Suicide focuses on how and why these neurobiological factors are crucial in the pathogenic mechanisms of suicidal behavior and how these findings can be transformed into potential therapeutic applications.

This volume addresses one of the Holy Grails in Psychiatry, namely the evidence for and potential to adopt ‘Biomarkers’ for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment responses in mental health conditions. It meshes together state of the art research from international renowned pre-clinical and clinical scientists to illustrate how the fields of anxiety disorders, depression, psychotic disorders, and autism spectrum disorder have advanced in recent years.