Neurodegenerative disorders are highly prevalent and diverse in nature.Their manifestation largely depends on the cell types involved,with aberrant inflammatory episodes progressively inducing a constellation of phenotypes that are classified into specific diseases based on their neuropathological traits.The two most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases worldwide,Alzheimer’s disease(AD)and Parkinson’s disease(PD),for example,share notable similarities,yet they differ in terms of the specific cell types lost within the central nervous system(CNS).The significant and progressive loss of cortical and certain subcortical neurons in various regions is a major defining trait of AD.In contrast,the specific loss of dopaminergic neurons(DA)within the substantial nigra pars compacta(SNpc)is sufficient to cause motor symptoms associated with PD.Another devastating condition arising from neurodegeneration within the CNS,amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS),results in the progressive death of upper and lower motor neurons.This degeneration originates in oligodendrocytes,whose defective myelination abilities lead to the denervation of the anterior horn,aggravating motor neuron death.
