Introduction

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) represent a growing global health challenge, largely driven by an aging population. AD is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for approximately 60 to 70 % of cases, and currently affects more than 55 million people worldwide, a number expected to triple by 2050. PD is the second most prevalent NDs, with over 8.5 million individuals affected globally, and its incidence has more than doubled in the last 25 years, making it the fastest-growing neurological disorder. Together, these diseases contribute to substantial disability, dependence, and mortality in older adults. This neuronal degeneration disrupts communication within the nervous system, impairing cognitive, motor, and/or autonomic functions depending on the affected brain regions [1,2].

The socio-economic burden of AD and PD is equally profound. The global cost of dementia alone was estimated at over US$1.3 trillion in 2019 and is projected to surpass US$2.8 trillion by 2030, reflecting not only direct medical expenses but also the hidden costs of informal care provided by families. Similarly, PD imposes considerable strain due to long-term disability, loss of productivity, and the need for continuous clinical management. Beyond financial costs, these disorders diminish quality of life for both patients and caregivers, often resulting in emotional, physical, and psychological stress that extends far beyond the affected individuals themselves [3,4].

Despite their impact, current therapeutic options for AD and PD remain limited. Available treatments primarily offer symptomatic relief, such as cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine for AD or dopaminergic therapies for PD, which temporarily improve cognitive or motor function. However, these interventions do not halt or reverse the underlying neurodegenerative processes. Numerous clinical trials targeting disease-modifying pathways, such as amyloid clearance in AD or neuroprotective strategies in PD, have thus far yielded limited success [5,6]. This therapeutic gap underscores the urgent need for innovative approaches that can address the molecular underpinnings of protein misfolding, aggregation, and neuronal dysfunction characteristic of these disorders.

In this context, the emergence of magneto-proteins represents a novel frontier in the search for next-generation therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. Magneto-proteins are engineered or naturally occurring proteins that can respond to external magnetic fields, enabling remote, non-invasive, and targeted modulation of neuronal activity. Unlike conventional pharmacological agents that rely on systemic delivery and often lack cellular specificity, magneto-proteins allow spatiotemporal control over neuronal signalling, opening new opportunities for precise therapeutic interventions in disorders such as AD and PD [7,8].

This concept lies at the intersection of bioengineering, neuroscience, and nanomedicine. By integrating magnetic field-responsive elements with neuronal proteins, researchers are developing innovative tools that not only deepen our understanding of brain function but also hold translational potential as disease-modifying strategies. The rise of magneto-proteins thus represents a promising step toward bridging molecular mechanisms with clinical applications, offering a new paradigm for non-invasive neuromodulation in complex brain disorders.