Advances in Research on Neurodegeneration

th From November 20 to 23, 1997 the 6 International Winter Conference on Neurodegeneration was held in Kitzbtihel, Austria, to explore recent ad­ vances in the treatment of neurodegenerative and neuroimmunological CNS diseases. Following the tradition of the previous conferences a select group of distinguished basic researchers and clinicians spent two days in the quiet Austrian mountain resort with in depth review and discussion of current topics in the fields of neurodegeneration and neuroimmunology focussing on the interface between these two groups of disorders. The main focus was on how to develop new treatment strategies based on current understandings in the molecular biology of maturation of the nervous system and of basic processes governing neurodegenerative disorders, like Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, Huntington's disease and amyotrophic lateral scle­ rosis as well as CNS demyelination in multiple sclerosis. Starting from classical concepts of symptomatic dopamine replacement therapy in Parkinson's dis­ ease, state-of-the-art lectures covered new evolving therapeutic concepts for neurodegenerative disorders: somatic gene therapy, neural transplantation and neuroprotection through pharmacological treatment as well as through deep brain stimulation. The emphasis on restoration as key feature of future neurological therapy was also highlighted in a session on mechanisms of demyelination and strate­ gies for myelin repair in neurological autoimmune disease. The present volume includes updated review articles and original papers th covering the proceedings of the 6 International Winter Conference.

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