The role of in silico and in vitro models in Parkinson's disease: Drug discovery and therapy applications.

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative condition, marked by a progressive deterioration in both motor and non-motor abilities, which can severely affect the quality of life of the elderly population. With no cure available, innovative tools in treatment development and drug discovery are necessary. For several years, traditional models have been essential; however, they face limitations in replicating the complex setting of Parkinson's disease. In this regard, in silico and in vitro models have become essential tools in advancing Parkinson's disease drug discovery because of the potential they exhibit over traditional models. Here, we comprehensively review the latest innovations in both models and discuss their role in discovering therapeutic targets, optimizing drug candidates, promoting personalized medicine, and identifying biomarkers. While in vitro models better simulate the complicated cell interactions and increase the predictability of therapeutic effects, silico models shine in cost-effectiveness and high-throughput drug screening. Additionally, we discuss how combining advanced technologies with both models can help to overcome current constraints and problems in Parkinson's disease drug discovery, therefore facilitating the development of effective and targeted therapies in a shorter timeframe.