A Clinical Guide to Neurodegeneration

Neurodegeneration is a progressive deterioration of the structures and functions of neurons that leads to cognitive disability and dementia. It is an important characteristic of many incurable debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), etc. Neurodegeneration in these conditions manifests in unique ways. In Alzheimer's disease, a loss of neurons and synapses occurs in the cerebral cortex while Parkinson's disease (PD) manifests with cell death in the substantia nigra. Huntington's disease causes loss of medium spiny neurons affecting the striatum, and the frontal and temporal cortices. Aging stands as the major risk factor for such neurodegenerative diseases. This book unravels the recent researches in the field of neurodegeneration. It presents studies performed by experts across the globe. This book attempts to assist those with a goal of delving into the field of neuroscience.