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XXXTherapies & Treatments – Helping Patients Live Better Lives
Neurodegenerative Diseases

(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 | |
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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 |
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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 |