In this volume are contributions based on a meeting arranged by the WHO and the Fondation IPSEN. The scientists focus on neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's Disease, Chromosome 17-Linked Dementia, Parkinson's Disease and disorders with tauopathies.

This book highlights the pathophysiological complexities of the mechanisms and factors that are likely to be involved in a range of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, other Dementia, Parkinson Diseases and Multiple Sclerosis. The spectrum of diverse factors involved in neurodegeneration, such as protein aggregation, oxidative stress, caspases and secretase, regulators, cholesterol, zinc, microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, etc, have been discussed in the context of disease progression. In addition, novel approaches to therapeutic interventions have also been presented. It is hoped that students, scientists and clinicians shall find this very informative book immensely useful and thought-provoking.

The Molecular and Cellular Basis of Neurodegenerative Diseases: Underlying Mechanisms presents the pathology, genetics, biochemistry and cell biology of the major human neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, frontotemporal dementia, ALS, Huntington's, and prion diseases. Edited and authored by internationally recognized leaders in the field, the book's chapters explore their pathogenic commonalities and differences, also including discussions of animal models and prospects for therapeutics. Diseases are presented first, with common mechanisms later. Individual chapters discuss each major neurodegenerative disease, integrating this information to offer multiple molecular and cellular mechanisms that diseases may have in common. This book provides readers with a timely update on this rapidly advancing area of investigation, presenting an invaluable resource for researchers in the field. - Covers the spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases and their complex genetic, pathological, biochemical and cellular features - Focuses on leading hypotheses regarding the biochemical and cellular dysfunctions that cause neurodegeneration - Details features, advantages and limitations of animal models, as well as prospects for therapeutic development - Authored by internationally recognized leaders in the field - Includes illustrations that help clarify and consolidate complex concepts

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterised by an insidious onset with slowing of emotional and voluntary movement, muscular rigidity, postural abnormality and tremor. Parkinson's disease was first described in 1817 by James Parkinson. It is a progressive, neurological disease mainly affecting people over the age of 50, although at least 10 per cent of cases occur at an earlier age. It affects people of either sex and all ethnic groups. In the normal brain, some nerve cells produce the chemical dopamine, which transmits signals within the brain to produce smooth movement of muscles. In Parkinson's patients, 80 percent or more of these dopamine-producing cells are damaged, dead, or otherwise degenerated. This causes the nerve cells to fire wildly, leaving patients unable to control their movements. This new book brings together the latest research in this field.

Many adult onset neurodegenerative diseases arise from the accumulation of misfolded peptides. This book examines the role sub-cellular trafficking pathways play in the pathological accumulation of these misfolded proteins and in attempts to clear them.

This is the first book to assemble the leading researchers in the field of LRRK2 biology and neurology and provide a snapshot of the current state of knowledge, encompassing all major aspects of its function and dysfunction. The contributors are experts in cell biology and physiology, neurobiology, and medicinal chemistry, bringing a multidisciplinary perspective on the gene and its role in disease. The book covers the identification of LRRK2 as a major contributor to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's Disease. It also discusses the current state of the field after a decade of research, putative normal physiological roles of LRRK2, and the various pathways that have been identified in the search for the mechanism(s) of its induction of neurodegeneration.

How protein chaperones protect cells from neurodegenerative diseases Including contributions from leading experts, Protein Chaperones and Protection from Neurodegenerative Diseases provides an in-depth exploration of how protein chaperones are involved in shielding cells from toxic aggregated or misfolded protein states that cause ALS, Parkinson's, and related diseases. Examining how different protein chaperones ameliorate the toxicity of proteins that are known to cause neurodegenerative damage, the book addresses both research and clinical perspectives on chaperone and anti-chaperone properties. The intersection of molecular chaperones and neurodegeneration is an intensely studied area, partly because of the potential for manipulating the expression of molecular chaperones to thwart the progression of debilitating diseases, and partly because of the ever-aging global population. Discussing the potential to harness the power of protein chaperones, and future directions for research, discovery, and therapeutics, this book is essential reading for scientists working in the fields of biochemistry, molecular medicine, pharmacology and drug discovery, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, advanced students, and anyone interested in this cutting-edge topic.