Gene therapy for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases: from the bench to clinical trials

Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases represent the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders worldwide. Current pharmacological or surgical treatments provide symptomatic benefits, particularly in the early stages, but none can delay or stop the progression of these diseases. There is an urgent need for new therapies able to modify disease progression. Gene therapy, mainly based on viral vectors, is presently being assumed as an important alternative to conventional treatments. After decades of preclinical developments, we are now facing an important period, in which several viral vector-mediated gene therapies are being tested in Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials, with some of them showing promising results. This review intends to present an overview of the current efforts in the field for the treatment of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.