While essential for normal brain function, excessive glutamate can lead to excitotoxicity, a process that damages or kills neurons. This occurs when overactivation of glutamate receptors leads to excessive calcium influx, triggering pathways that result in cell death. Excitotoxicity is implicated in various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
