Sporadic Neurodegeneration

More than 5 million people are affected with some form of neurodegeneration, and with the baby boomer generation reaching retirement age, the number of affected individuals is expected to reach epidemic proportions. Three of the most common neurodegenerative diseases include Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Genes implicated in the inherited forms of these diseases have been identified and have shed light onto the mechanism(s) of neurodegeneration, however disease cures remain elusive. Although the vast majority of disease cases are sporadic in nature, the least is known about the origin of sporadic neurodegeneration. This educational program has been developed to present and discuss the putative factors involved in sporadic forms of neurodegenerative diseases, with the intention of focusing research efforts and therapeutic strategies towards curing both sporadic and familial forms of these diseases.