Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is one of the most common clinical subtypes of retinal degeneration (RD), and it is a neurodegenerative disease that could cause complete blindness in humans because it ultimately affects the photoreceptors viability. RP afflicts an estimated 1.5 million patients worldwide. The retina is highly susceptible to oxidative stress which can impair mitochondrial function. Many retina pathologies, such as diabetic retinopathy and secondary cone photoreceptor death in RP, have been related directly or indirectly with mitochondrial dysfunction. The possible role of autophagy in retina and cell differentiation is described and also the implications of autophagy dysregulation in RP. The present review shows the crucial role of autophagy in maintaining the retina homeostasis and possible therapeutic approaches for the treatment of RP.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that produces a selective loss of the motor neurons of the spinal cord, brain stem and motor cortex. Oxidative stress (OS) associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and the deterioration of the electron transport chain has been shown to be a factor that contributes to neurodegeneration and plays a potential role in the pathogenesis of ALS. The regions of the central nervous system affected have high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduced antioxidant defenses. Scientific studies propose treatment with antioxidants to combat the characteristic OS and the regeneration of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD +) levels by the use of precursors. This review examines the possible roles of nicotinamide riboside and pterostilbene as therapeutic strategies in ALS.

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