Understanding neurodegeneration: beyond basics

Abstract

Pathogenesis of Neurodegenerative Disordersedited by M.P. Mattson. Humana Press, 2001. $135 hardback (304 pages)ISBN 0 89603 838 6Neurodegenerative disorders top the list of diseases whose prevalence is on the rise. In recent decades, better diagnostic tools and treatments have led to diminishing mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases, and many types of cancer. Yet, the frequency of neurodegenerative disorders, in particular of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and the associated morbidity and mortality rates, are rising, along with the increased human life span in industrialized countries.This book is therefore a timely and welcomed addition to the Humana Press Contemporary Neuroscience book series, launched in 1983 and already counting 32 titles. The book, skillfully edited by Mark Mattson, includes 12 chapters, written by experts on different neurodegenerative disorders and discrete aspects of neurodegeneration. Opening chapters deal with general aspects of neurodegeneration, from apoptotic control of cell death to the role of oxidative stress and excitatory amino acids in neurodegeneration. Subsequent chapters cover specific neurological disorders, from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases to Down syndrome, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Additional neurological pathologies that are rightfully included, albeit not representing neurodegenerative disorders, are ischaemic stroke and spinal cord injury.Overall, the book is an up-to-date and useful resource on neurodegeneration for researchers and clinicians alike. Many chapters include discussions of animal models, but only a few chapters discuss the genetics of the disorder concerned. A more general discussion on the genetics of neurodegenerative disorders would have been a welcome addition.Yet, some pitfalls are evident. Many chapters fail to discuss diagnosis, such as the use of modern brain imaging tools. Relatively little is mentioned on aspects of therapy, including the emerging hopeful prospects for immunization as future treatment for Alzheimer's disease and for spinal cord injury. Notable by their omission are autoimmune disorders involving neurodegeneration, such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, anti-phospholipid syndrome, and peripheral neuropathy. In a sense, this might be a wise decision: comprehensive coverage of additional disorders would have made this book too weighty.A shortcoming that is not so easily excused is the scarcity of figures: there are a mere 35 figures in the book, mostly simple line drawings – definitely not enough for a medical text describing about 10 disorders and covering about 300 pages. The most sorely missed are images of diseased brain tissues (sections, slides probed with antibodies, brain imaging figures, etc.) – only two such figures are found in the entire book. Notably, the publisher chose for the cover a color slide of silver-stained tissue from the hippocampus of an Alzheimer's disease patient, showing the typical plaques and tangles pathology. The lack of similar figures inside the book appears to be a major drawback for this otherwise informative and up-to-date book. Hopefully, future titles on neurodegeneration will include a wider scope of informative figures.Even with its shortcomings, the book is a solid and valuable resource for PhD. students and scientists working in the field of neurodegeneration. Although I would not recommend it as a general reference book for researchers outside the field, researchers in the field of neurodegeneration will find many chapters to be informative and useful reading.