Astrocytes in the damaged spinal cord (Mey and McCaffery)
 

Neuronal disease

Every behaviour, action or decision we take in the world is governed by our nervous system and diseases of this system break down our ability to function. Sadly such disorders are all too common; damage to the spinal cord will paralyze limbs, motorneuron disease or Parkinson's disease disable movement while diabetic neuropathy will lead to loss of peripheral nerves with many damaging consequences. More pernicious are the diseases that effect thought and cognition, destroying the ability to reason. Alzheimer's disease will spiral into complete dementia, depression will degrade the pleasure of life, schizophrenia fracture coherent thought.

Researchers in Aberdeen neuroscience are tackling all these diseases through the discovery of the genes and proteins that underlie these disorders and understanding how malfunctions in these molecules can lead to disease. Many researchers are taking a translational or "bench to bedside" approach, working with clinicians to take molecular discoveries towards the development of cure for disease.