Neurodegenerative Diseases | UCSF IND Web Site

Close-up of Prions

Our Mission: Research and Cures

Building on his revolutionary discovery in 1982, Dr.

In Parkinson's disease (PD), the protein α-synuclein misfolds and then assembles into fibrils. These fibrils coalesce to form Lewy bodies inside of neurons.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. In ALS, motor neurons degenerate and die, resulting in the inability to control muscle movement.

Alzheimer's Disease

In Alzheimer's disease, the amyloid precursor protein is cleaved, or "cut," to form small proteins known as Aβ.

Tauopathies

The tauopathies are a class of diseases caused by misfolding of the tau protein. Tau prions begin replicating spontaneously in the frontal lobes.

Huntington's Disease

Huntington's disease (HD) is unique among the other neurodegenerative diseases in that it is always inherited. HD is caused by abnormal huntingtin protein.