Zinc in neurodegeneration

Zinc is a critical regulator in the central nervous system and has many different roles in various cellular pathways under normal conditions. As a consequence, when there is a disturbance in zinc homeostasis in the brain, as can occur with ageing, disease or injury, then this can have significant deleterious consequences for normal brain function. In this chapter, we will review the role that zinc has in the mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration, which collectively encompasses cellular processes such as autophagy, oxidative stress, protein aggregation, excitotoxicity, mitochondrial failure and neuroinflammation. These pathways are broadly involved in the initiation and potentiation of the neuronal cell death and dysfunction that occurs in a number of common disorders that occur across lifespan, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, traumatic brain injury and even normal ageing. Understanding the role of zinc in neurodegeneration will ultimately facilitate the development of targeted therapeutics that may promote successful brain ageing.