Cathepsins,the most abundant hydrolases in lysosomes,are responsible for the degradation of various substrates.Increasing evidence suggests that cathepsins play important roles in neurodegenerative diseases.Cathepsins affect the progression of diseases by regu-lating the aggregation of abnormal proteins(e.g.α-synuclein,amyloid β-protein,huntington).Abnormal expression levels and activity and gene mutations of cathepsin B,D,and L in the nervous system can lead to the occurrence and development of neurodegenerative diseases.This review summarizes the research progress on cathepsins in neurodegenerative diseases in recent years,with a view to providing a basis for the early diagnosis and treatment of these diseases.