Promoting Neuronal Cell Death to Mitigate Widespread Neurodegeneration

Extensive cell death is a hallmark of neurodegenerative disease. Early cell death is typically limited and regional, and then spreads as the disease progresses. This project proposes a new way to think about neuronal cell death, investigating the idea that early cell death of diseased neurons may initially serve as a protective mechanism that slows disease spread. The team will also test the hypothesis that targeting these early “pathogenic” neurons for more rapid elimination may suppress disease progression.