Abstract

In recent years, medical developments have resulted in an increase in human life expectancy. Some developed countries now have a larger population of individuals aged over 64 than those under 14. One consequence of the ageing population is a higher incidence of certain neurodegenerative disorders. In order to prevent these, we need to learn more about them. This book provides up-to-date information on the use of transgenic mouse models in the study of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease. By reproducing some of the pathological aspects of the diseases, these studies could reveal the mechanism for their onset or development. Some of the transgenic mice can also be used as targets for testing new compounds with the potential to prevent or combat these disorders. The editors have extensive knowledge and experience in this field and the book is aimed at undergraduates, postgraduates and academics. The chapters cover disorders including: Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's and other CAG diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), recessive ataxias, disease caused by prions, and ischemia.
Jesus Avila is a Professor and former Director of the Centre of Molecular Biology in Madrid. Over the last thirty years, his work has focused on the cytoskeleton of the neuron. He is now investigating on the role of tau proteins in neurodegenerative disorders (tauopathies) such as Alzheimer's disease. Professor Avila is a member of several professional organizations including EMBO, the European Academy, and the Spanish Royal Academy of Sciences. He is also on the Editorial Board of a number of scholarly journals and has more than 300 publications to his name. Jose J. Lucas is Research Professor of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) at the Centre for Molecular Biology (CBMSO) in Madrid. He obtained his PhD from the Cajal Institute in 1993 and then moved to Columbia University in New York for his postdoctoral training. He subsequently returned to Spain to join CBMSO and, in recent years, his research has focused on the generation of mouse models to study neurodegeneration and other CNS diseases. Professor Lucas is a member of several professional organizations including the European Huntington's Disease Network (EHDN) and the Spanish Royal Academy of Pharmacy. He has authored more than 70 papers including contributions on the potential for reversibility of neurodegenerative disorders. FÚlix Hernßndez lectures on Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Autonoma University in Madrid. His main research focus is on neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and related tauopathies, using genetically modified mouse models - especially those over-expressing mutated tau protein and its main kinase, GSK-3?.