Scientists have long known that inherited neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or motor neuron disease, can be traced back to genetic mutations. However, how they cause the diseases remains unanswered.
In today’s issue of the journal Current Biology Professor Andreas Prokop revealed that so-called “motor proteins” can provide key answers in this quest.
The research by the Prokop group focuses on nerve fibers, also called axons. Axons are the delicate biological cables that send messages between the brain and body to control our movements and behavior. Intriguingly, axons need to survive and stay functional for our entire lifetime.







