# Therapeutic role of voltage-gated potassium channels in age-related neurodegenerative diseases

## TL;DR

This review explores how voltage-gated potassium channels may play a role in age-related neurodegenerative diseases and could be targeted for treatment.

## Contribution

The paper highlights new insights into specific potassium channelopathies in major neurodegenerative diseases and their therapeutic potential.

## Key findings

- Voltage-gated potassium channels are affected by oxidative stress in aging and neurodegeneration.
- KV1, KV2.1, KV3, KV4, and KV7 channels are mainly impacted in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, and Spinocerebellar Ataxia.
- KV channel modulators are proposed as potential therapeutic targets for these diseases.

## Abstract

Voltage-gated ion channels are essential for membrane potential maintenance, homeostasis, electrical signal production and controlling the Ca2+ flow through the membrane. Among all ion channels, the key regulators of neuronal excitability are the voltage-gated potassium channels (KV), the largest family of K+ channels. Due to the ROS high levels in the aging brain, K+ channels might be affected by oxidative agents and be key in aging and neurodegeneration processes. This review provides new insight about channelopathies in the most studied neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington Disease or Spinocerebellar Ataxia. The main affected KV channels in these neurodegenerative diseases are the KV1, KV2.1, KV3, KV4 and KV7. Moreover, in order to prevent or repair the development of these neurodegenerative diseases, previous KV channel modulators have been proposed as therapeutic targets.