OXIDATIVE STRESS AND APOPTOSIS IN NEURODEGENERATION

The pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's dis ease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease is unknown . These diseases are characterized by a slow, progressive loss of part icular subsets of neurons. Much evidence has accumulated which support s the hypothesis that oxidative stress and damage by free radicals may play an important part in these diseases. In particular, recent studi es with the inherited form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis have revea led mutations in the superoxide dismutase gene, which is one of the ce ll's main defence mechanisms against oxidative stress. These findings suggest a direct link between oxidative stress and the development of a neurodegenerative disease.