Cell Death and Diseases of the Nervous System

It is an honor to be asked to write a foreword for this timely book, which assembles contributions from authorities working in the area of pathological nervous system cell death, and has been expertly edited by Vassilis Koliatsos and Rajiv Ratan. That the inap­ propriate demise of brain or spinal cord cells is at the root of many neurological diseases has been appreciated since the early days of microscopic neuropathology, but it has only been in the last decade or so that pervasive therapeutic nihilism has lifted. In the journey of medical progress, we have reached the shores of a marvelous new land. Three major scientific thrusts in particular have converged to produce the press of ideas covered here. First, burgeoning information about the fundamental nature of central nervous system cell--(;ell signaling, both the fast signaling mediated by conventional neu­ rotransmitters and the usually slower signaling mediated by neuromodulators and growth factors. A central theme emerging in recent years has been the duality of these signaling mechanisms, which serve the nervous system in health, but which can become the very mediators of neuronal or glial cell degeneration in disease settings. Glutamate-mediated neurotransmission and excitotoxicity have been the defining and best-studied examples, but many other examples have also emerged. Second, delineation of the molecular under­ pinnings of programmed cell death, and an appreciation of their awesome power.

Written by pioneers in the field, Cell Death and Diseases of the Nervous System captures all the important classic and new research on neuronal injury and cell death and the application of these results to the treatment of a wide range of neurological and neuropsychiatric illness. The outcome is a unique integration of cellular and molecular insights, clinical knowledge, and therapeutic experience. As the chapters move back and forth from the basic to the clinical level, exciting possibilities emerge for finding therapeutic approaches to neurological illness based on a new understanding of fundamental processes. Extensive cross-referencing allows easy navigation between chapters and different points of view.

Cell Death and Diseases of the Nervous System provides a concise summary of current neurological knowledge from the perspective of the basic disease mechanisms involved in neuronal injury and death. In an era of increasing specialization, this book offers an authoritative integration and unique cross-fertilization for all those seeking to better understand and treat neurological illness.