"A neurodegenerative disease is caused by the progressive loss of structure or function of neurons, in the process known as neurodegeneration."
Conditions that involve the progressive loss of neurons in the nervous system, leading to cognitive and motor deficits.
Neuroanatomy: The study of the structure of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
Neurophysiology: The study of the function of the nervous system, including the electrical activity of neurons and the transmission of signals between them.
Pathology: The study of the nature and causes of disease, particularly as they relate to changes in body tissues and organs.
Genetics: The study of how traits are inherited and how genetic mutations can cause disease.
Epidemiology: The study of patterns and causes of disease in populations, including factors such as age, gender, and geographic location.
Pharmacology: The study of how drugs interact with the body and how they can be used to treat or prevent disease.
Neuropsychology: The study of how brain function relates to behavior, including how cognitive processes such as memory, attention, and decision-making are affected by neurodegenerative diseases.
Neuroimaging: The use of non-invasive techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) to visualize the structure and function of the brain.
Biomarkers: Indicators in the body that can be used to diagnose or monitor a disease, such as genetic mutations, proteins, or changes in brain structure.
Therapy: The use of treatments such as medications, occupational therapy, or speech therapy to improve symptoms or slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
Prevention: Strategies to reduce the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases, such as exercising, healthy eating, and avoiding toxins.
Support: Resources for patients and their families, including counseling, support groups, and financial assistance.
Ethics: The study of moral principles and values, particularly as they relate to medical research and treatment of individuals with neurodegenerative diseases.
Alzheimer's disease: A progressive disease characterized by memory loss, cognitive decline, personality changes, and impaired ability to perform daily activities.
Parkinson's disease: A degenerative disorder affecting movement and coordination, characterized by tremors, stiffness, and difficulty initiating or controlling movements.
Huntington's disease: A genetic disorder characterized by involuntary movements, emotional disturbances, and cognitive decline.
Multiple sclerosis: A chronic disease affecting the central nervous system, characterized by inflammation, damage to myelin, and a range of symptoms such as fatigue, numbness, vision problems, and difficulty with coordination and balance.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): A progressive disease affecting the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles, causing muscle weakness, spasticity, and difficulty speaking, swallowing, and breathing.
Frontotemporal dementia: A group of disorders that affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain and cause changes in behavior, personality, and language ability.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: A rare and fatal disease caused by accumulation of abnormal proteins in the brain, resulting in rapid cognitive and neurological decline.
Spinocerebellar ataxia: A group of genetic disorders that affect the cerebellum and cause problems with balance, coordination, and speech.
Primary lateral sclerosis: A rare disorder affecting the upper motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, causing progressive weakness and stiffness.
Progressive supranuclear palsy: A disorder affecting movement, balance, and eye movements, caused by the accumulation of abnormal proteins in the brain.
Corticobasal degeneration: A rare neurological disorder that affects movement, cognition, and behavior, characterized by progressive degeneration of the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia.
Lewy body dementia: A disorder that affects movement, cognitive function, and behavior, caused by the presence of Lewy bodies in the brain.
Ataxia-telangiectasia: A rare genetic disorder affecting the nervous system and immune system, causing progressive loss of muscle control, immune deficiency, and a range of other symptoms.
Friedreich's ataxia: A genetic disorder affecting the nervous system, characterized by muscle weakness, coordination problems, and eventual loss of sensation.
Niemann-Pick disease: A group of disorders characterized by the accumulation of abnormal lipids in the body, causing a range of symptoms such as swollen organs, cognitive decline, and seizures.
"Neurodegenerative diseases include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, multiple system atrophy, and prion diseases."
"The two major contributing factors to neurodegeneration are oxidative stress and inflammation."
"These diseases are considered to be incurable."
"Biomedical research has revealed many similarities between these diseases at the subcellular level, including atypical protein assemblies (like proteinopathy) and induced cell death."
"It is estimated that 55 million people worldwide had dementia in 2019."
"By 2050, this figure will increase to 139 million people."
"Such neuronal damage may ultimately involve cell death."
"Neurodegeneration can be found in the brain at many different levels of neuronal circuitry, ranging from molecular to systemic."
"The two major contributing factors to neurodegeneration are oxidative stress and inflammation."
"Because there is no known way to reverse the progressive degeneration of neurons, these diseases are considered to be incurable."
"Biomedical research has revealed many similarities between these diseases at the subcellular level, including atypical protein assemblies (like proteinopathy)."
"These similarities suggest that therapeutic advances against one neurodegenerative disease might ameliorate other diseases as well."
"Neurodegenerative diseases include... prion diseases."
"It is estimated that 55 million people worldwide had dementia in 2019."
"By 2050, this figure will increase to 139 million people."
"The two major contributing factors to neurodegeneration are oxidative stress and inflammation."
"Because there is no known way to reverse the progressive degeneration of neurons, these diseases are considered to be incurable."
"Biomedical research has revealed many similarities between these diseases at the subcellular level, including atypical protein assemblies (like proteinopathy) and induced cell death."
"These similarities suggest that therapeutic advances against one neurodegenerative disease might ameliorate other diseases as well."