Neurons and mechanisms of neuronal death in neurodegenerative diseases: A brief review

Background and Purpose: Degenerative diseases of the central nervous system are a heterogenous group of slowly progressive disorders. A common feature of this group, which includes Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, an d amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is gradual loss of specific populations of neurons. Methods: A series of reports about neurodegenerative diseases and their rel evant animal models, as well as a brief overview of the normal neuron and m echanisms of neuronal degeneration and death, is presented. Conclusion: Study of the aforementioned animal models, spontaneously occurr ing and experimentally induced, have provided important insights into the p athogenesis of these disorders and the development of effective therapeutic strategies.