The role of hormesis in the functional performance and protection of neural systems



Edward J Calabrese1, Vittorio Calabrese2, James Giordano3

1 Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, Morrill I, N344, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA

2 Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria, Catania, Italy

3 Department of Neurology and Biochemistry, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA



Correspondence Address:

Prof. Edward J Calabrese

School of Public Health and Health Sciences, Environmental Health Sciences, Morrill I, N344, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003

USA

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None Check 9

DOI: 10.4103/2394-8108.203257



This paper addresses how hormesis, a biphasic dose response, can protect and affect performance of neural systems. Particular attention is directed to the potential role of hormesis in mitigating age-related neurodegenerative diseases, genetically based neurological diseases, as well as stroke, traumatic brain injury, seizure, and stress-related conditions. The hormetic dose response is of particular significance since it mediates the magnitude and range of neuroprotective processes. Consideration of hormetic dose-response concepts can also enhance the quality of study designs, including sample size/statistical power strategies, selection of treatment groups, dose spacing, and temporal/repeat measures' features.

Keywords: Biphasicdose response, hormesis, hormetic dose response, neuroprotection, postconditioning, preconditioning

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