An Overview of Aflat Neurological Diseases and Drug Discovery: An Overview

Hundreds of millions of people worldwide are af ected by neurological disorders. More than 50 million people have epilepsy; 7.7 million new dementia cases are reported every year worldwide. Over the last decade, fewer new drugs for nervous system disorders have garnered approval in comparison to other therapeutic areas. An important step of the drug development process is the lead identification and lead optimization to develop the best pharmacokinetic profile for the desired formulation and preferred route of administration. It requires Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) to understand which modifications will best enhance af inity. Computer-aided molecular design (CAMD) is used in innovative strategies assisting in improving the binding af inities of drug candidates to specific receptors. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) have proven to be useful in phases ranging from preclinical development to the initial stages of clinical testing. The high sensitivity of these imaging modalities makes them particularly suited for exploratory investigational new drug development.