FGF20 is a neurotrophic factor and member of the FGF9 subfamily that regulates central nervous system development and function 1. It is highly expressed in the adult brain and binds to multiple fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR4, FGFR3b, FGFR2b) 1, mediating its effects through fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling and positive regulation of the MAPK cascade. FGF20 promotes survival of midbrain dopaminergic neurons and supports neuronal differentiation 2. During embryonic development, FGF20 is widely expressed across diverse tissues including the inner ear, heart, dental epithelium, and limbs 1. Loss-of-function FGF20 mutations in mice produce congenital deafness, alopecia, small kidneys, and delayed mammary ductal outgrowth 1. In disease contexts, FGF20 genetic variants show limited association with sporadic Parkinson's disease risk despite initial reports 3, though the gene is linked to hereditary deafness and cancer 1. Recent evidence demonstrates therapeutic potential: FGF20 protein mitigates necroptosis in spinal cord injury models, promoting motor function recovery and axonal regeneration 4, while engineered extracellular vesicles delivering FGF20 reduce ischemic stroke infarct volume and enhance functional recovery through miR-181b-5p/PTEN pathway activation 5. These findings position FGF20 as a promising neuroprotective therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative and acute neurological conditions.