Neurodegenerative Disorders

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are characterized by specific dysfunction and damage of neurons related to pathologically changed proteins that deposit in the patient brain but also in peripheral organs. These proteins can be used for therapy or used as biomarkers. Except for a plethora of alterations revealed for dissimilar neurodegeneration-related proteins, amyloid-β, prion protein, TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43, transactive response DNA binding protein 43 kDa), tau and α-synuclein, or fused in sarcoma protein (FUS), molecular classification of NDs depend on the full morphological assessment of protein deposits, their spreading in the brain, and their correspondence to clinical signs with specific genetic modifications. The current chapter represents the etiology of neurodegeneration, classification of NDs, concentrating on the maximum applicable biochemical and anatomical characteristics and most imperative NDs.