neuroprotective

adjective

neu·​ro·​pro·​tec·​tive ˌnu̇r-ō-prə-ˈtek-tiv 

ˌnyu̇r-

: serving to protect neurons from injury or degeneration

neuroprotective drugs

Examples of neuroprotective in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Its neuroprotective effects come from its antioxidant levels. —Carrie Madormo, Rn, Mph, Verywell Health, 25 Oct. 2024

Delta-9 can exhibit very high neuroprotective potential and help relieve chronic pain. —Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 1 Oct. 2024

Lion's mane has been used medicinally for centuries, thanks to its bioactive compounds that exhibit neuroprotective and neuroregenerative properties.29 Lion's mane mushrooms have hericenones and erinacines, two compounds known to stimulate the growth of brain cells. —Roxana Ehsani, Health, 24 Sep. 2024

And the neuroprotective effects may extend to Parkinson’s disease as well. —Emily Mullin, WIRED, 8 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

neuroprotective

adjective

neu·​ro·​pro·​tec·​tive ˌn(y)u̇r-ō-prə-ˈtek-tiv 

: serving to protect nerve cells from injury or degeneration

Neuroprotective strategies involve interfering with the ischemic cascade, thereby prolonging and substantially reducing stroke size.

—Lewis B. Morgenstern et al., Scientific American Medical Bulletin

Laboratory and clinical studies with selegiline are promising, but have not yet firmly established that selegiline, or any other drug, is neuroprotective.

—Warren Olanow, The Journal of the American Medical Association

neuroprotection

-ˈtek-shən 

noun

Neuroprotection is another approach that has become important in glaucoma research. It is the use of drugs to protect optic nerve cells from taking in too much calcium, thus strengthening them against growing intraocular pressure.

—Aimee Phan, USA Today