Preface

Brain disorders are a major public health and economic concern. The causes of these disorders are heterogeneous, and so as the treatment options. State-of-the-art advances in scientific techniques, evolving clinical observations, and diagnostic accuracies to study the neurobiology of different diseases are very illuminating, and assist in not only deciphering the physiology of brain disorders but also the mechanisms that make people more vulnerable to these disorders.

As our understanding is evolving, our knowledge is expanding, and so is our book series Frontiers in Clinical Drug Research - CNS and Neurological Disorders. The organization and content of volume 12 of our book series like its predecessors set s the physiology of the brain by outlining the pathology of neurodegenerative disorders, the role of neuroinflammation in neurological disorders, aging in brain tumors, comorbidities in epilepsy as well as placebo effect based on available empirical evidence by actively formulating, synthesizing, and analyzing these pieces of evidence. The relationships between these medical illnesses are complex, multifactorial, and bidirectional.

Since the aim of the series is to include current advancements in the field, rather covering the materials exhaustively, this volume also precisely educates readers about the salient examples of the latest advancement happening in the translational research of various brain aliments, encompassing neurodegenerative disorders and neurological disorders. The volume also contextualizes the engaging and accessible introduction to drug repurposing for neurological disorders. The last chapter of the volume also discusses the organophosphorus poisoning or intoxication emergency, a very scarcely discussed topic, with reference to neuroactive drugs that can be used to treat it.

Briefly, Chapter 1 highlights the current approaches used for tracking the new drugs by reviewing recent drugs tested in clinical trials for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Chapter 2 summarizes an intellectual and conceptual framework for understanding the neurobiology of placebo by interpreting its evolutionary origin, meanings, mechanisms, monitoring, and implications from therapeutics’ perspective. Chapter 3 discusses the role of gut microbiota in neuroinflammation and neurological disorders. Chapter 4 glances the role of age in pediatric tumors of the central nervous system. Chapter 5 comprehensively and critically assesses the current knowledge about epilepsy when it is comorbid with the full range of medical disorders with reference to drug repurposing in clinical trials. Chapter 6 reviews the progress on the development of oxime derivatives as a potential antidote for organophosphorus poisoning.

Therefore, each chapter in the book very ostensibly introduces beginners in the basic science to the primary as well as advanced knowledge in the field. At the same time, these chapters are equally valuable not just for other mental health professionals, and psychiatrists but also for a wide range of medical specialists as well. Besides, it offers researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and students in diverse fields of neurobiology, neurology and neuroscience the tools they need to obtain a fundamental background in the major neurodegenerative, and neurological disorders. In conclusion, the volume provides a glimpse into the future that we are moving toward by exploring a greater understanding of the common pathways that mediate neuropathological illnesses, symptoms, and the relevant pathophysiological and neurophysiological phenomenon.

The timely assistance provided by the editorial staff; Mr. Mahmood Alam (Director Publications), and Ms. Asma Ahmed (Senior Manager Publications) at Bentham Science Publishers is highly appreciated.