Energy Compensation Strategy: The Frontier of Neurodegenerative Disease Treatment

Neurodegenerative diseases are a major threat to global public health. Recent studies have revealed that mitochondrial DNA damage and the imbalance of protein homeostasis during aging constitute the core pathological basis of neurodegeneration. The resulting energy metabolism disorders are the common pathogenic hubs of multiple neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we focus on representative neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Huntington's disease, and systematically discuss their pathology related to metabolic disorders. We introduce various energy compensation strategies: (1) rebuilding the energy supply by enhancing mitochondrial function; (2) implementing systemic metabolic remodeling; (3) supplementing alternative energy substrates; (4) utilizing direct energy delivery technology. This review also highlights the technical bottlenecks of existing energy compensation strategies, guiding future research on neurodegenerative diseases.