Mechanisms of Cell Death

Understanding cell death is fundamental to understanding MND as the disease processes cause the death of motor neurones.  Apoptosis is a planned process in the life and death of cells and is designed to dismantle cell components in an orderly way so that they can be recycled for use elsewhere in the body.  It is hoped, by understanding the different interactions and mechanisms that lead to cell death (rather than to repairing the damage), to discover the biochemical pathways that control cell death and to discover ways in which cell death can be halted which could then be translated to treatments to prevent further loss of motor neurones once a diagnosis has been made.

Updated Friday 15 Aug 2008