Biography
Biography: K. K. Jain
Abstract
Personalized neurology is the application of principles of personalized medicine, i.e., the prescription of specific therapeutics best suited for an individual taking into consideration both genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors that influence response to therapy. The aim is to improve efficacy and reduce adverse effects of therapy. Personalization of therapies for neurological disorders is based on a better understanding of the disease at the molecular level. Molecular diagnostics, molecular neuroimaging, sequencing and monitoring of gene expression by microarrays are important technologies for this purpose. Besides omics, e.g., neurogenomics and neuroproteomics, nongenomic technologies such as nanobiotechnology are also used. Biological therapies for neurological disorders, such as cell therapy, gene therapy, gene editing, RNAi, vaccines and monoclonal antibodies can also be personalized. Biomarkers and integration of diagnostics with therapeutics are important for the selection and monitoring of treatments. Biomarkers enable presymptomatic diagnosis, selection of appropriate treatment, assessment of disease progression, and evaluation of patient response to therapy. Nanobiotechnology has refined molecular diagnosis, improved drug formulation and targeted delivery through the blood-brain barrier to the lesion in the brain and spare the normal tissues to reduce systemic toxicity. Integration of multiple factors into personalized approach requires use of bioinformatics. A personalized approach can be incorporated in algorithms for the management of various neurologic disorders. Examples of neurological disorders will include Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, epilepsy, and stroke. Advantages and future of personalized neurology are:
- The availability of low-cost genomic sequencing will expand the use of genomic information in the practice of neurology.
- Sequencing of the genome is enabling genetic redefinition of several neurologic disorders as well as better insight into their pathomechanisms to improve our understanding and facilitate early detection by molecular methods.
- An increase in the ability to anticipate diseases rather than just reacting to them after onset may enable the institution of preventive measures.
- The precision and effectiveness of drugs is increased.
- Drugs can be better targeted to diseases in some patients based on genotype information.
- Development of more effective personalized medicines may obviate the need for surgery in some chronic neurological disorders.