Abstract

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors were among the first antidepressants to be discovered and have long been used as such. It now seems that many of these agents might have therapeutic value in several common neurodegenerative conditions, independently of their inhibition of monoamine oxidase activity. However, many claims and some counter-claims have been made about the physiological importance of these enzymes and the potential of their inhibitors. We evaluate these arguments in the light of what we know, and still have to learn, of the structure, function and genetics of the monoamine oxidases and the disparate actions of their inhibitors.

Author affiliations

1. Technion-Rappaport Family Faculty of Medicine, Eve Topf and US National Parkinson Foundation Centers of Excellence for Neurodegenerative Diseases, P.O. Box 9697, 31096 Haifa, Israel.
2. Department of Pharmacology, P.O. Box 9697, 31096 Haifa, Israel.
3. Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, 1510 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
4. Trinity College Dublin, Department of Biochemistry, Dublin 2, Ireland.

Correspondence to: Moussa B. H. Youdim^1,2 Email: youdim@tx.technion.ac.il

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