XXX

(Photo credit: Andrew Bret Wallis / The Image Bank / Getty Images)

Neurodegenerative diseases are disorders characterized by the progressive degeneration of the structure and function of the nervous system. Neurodegenerative diseases affect the body’s activities such as balance, movement, talking, breathing and even heart function. Many are genetic, but some are caused by an underlying medical condition. Common neurodegenerative diseases include Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, muscular dystrophy, Lou Gehrig’s and multiple sclerosis.

Patient Stories
A fitness trainer strives to keep his mother’s mind limber:	https://www.novartis.com/stories/patient-perspectives/fitness-trainer-strives-keep-his-mothers-mind-limber
Living with the unknowns of Alzheimer’s disease:	Search for this story on https://www.abbvie.com/

Examples of Common Treatments Developed With Animal Models

Drug	Usage	Animal Models
Carbidopa	Dopamine promoter, Parkinson's disease	Dogs, mice, monkeys, rabbits, rats
Donepezil	Cognition-enhancing medication, Alzheimer's disease	Lemurs, mice, monkeys, rabbits, rats
Galantamine	Cognition-enhancing medication, dementia	Dogs, mice, monkeys, rabbits, rats
Levodopa	Dopamine promoter, Parkinson's disease	Dogs, mice, monkeys, rabbits, rats
Memantine	Cognition-enhancing medication, dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease	Dogs, hamsters, lemurs, mice, monkeys, rabbits, rats
Pramipexole	Dopamine promoter, Parkinson's disease, restless leg syndrome	Dogs, mice, mini pigs, monkeys, rabbits, rats
Risdiplam	Spinal muscular atrophy	Mice, rats, rabbits, monkeys
Rivastigmine	Cognition-enhancing medication, dementia	Dogs, hamsters, mice, monkeys, rabbits, rats, minipigs
Ropinirole	Dopamine promoter, Parkinson's disease, restless leg syndrome	Dogs, mice, monkeys, rabbits, rats
Tetrabenazine	Involuntary movement reducer, movement disorder (chorea) caused by Huntington's disease	Dogs, hamsters, mice, monkeys, rabbits, rats