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Cerebellar Degeneration In Harlequin Mice Is Associated With Inflammation Unaltered By Low-Dose Phenobarbital Treatment, Anita Prtenjaca

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Canadian population demographics are shifting to an increase in aged individuals and an increase in the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases. The post-mitotic nature of most neurons highlights the need to understand the etiology and early mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases and design targeted therapies. Currently, the etiologies of neurodegeneration are poorly understood but oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation are early mechanisms in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. An anti-aging strategy that can be adapted for use in neurodegeneration is hormesis, where repeated low-level exposures to stressors are beneficial to the cell. Hormesis has demonstrated efficacy in inhibiting …