Neurodegenerative diseases

The following session we'll cover neurodegenerative diseases within the context of this subject. Focusing on the major types of neurodegenerative diseases, their characteristic brain involvement and shared underlying molecular mechanisms such as protein aggregation. We will discuss how these mechanisms lead to the clinical symptoms observed in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases, as well as the diagnostic and etiological features distinguishing them. Genetic and environmental risk factors will be highlighted alongside the current limitations of treatment which primarily targets symptom management and quality of life. Finally, we will review advances in diagnosis, the role of biomarkers, and promising directions for future therapeutic developments. Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of disorders marked by progressive loss of structure or function of neurons including their death. Common types include Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases, as well as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, and other rare inherited disorders. Each targets particular brain regions resulting in distinct syndromes. Despite varied symptoms, these conditions often share underlying molecular mechanisms and present major public health challenges globally. A unifying theme in neurodegenerative diseases is the accumulation of misfolded or aggregated proteins inside or around neurons. In Alzheimer's disease, key features are extracellular amyloid-Beta plaques and intracellular tau tangles.