Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by a progressive deterioration of central and peripheral neural functions resulting from evolving pathological insults to neurons and/or glial cells in brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves, leading to neuron death. Neurodegenerative diseases have a major impact on patients at a professional, social and family level and can lead to a complete inability to carry out any type of everyday activity. For example, patients may have mobility problems, breathing difficulties, cognitive problems, or gradual memory loss.
Neurodegenerative diseases are growing into a global challenge, as medical advances ensure more individuals live longer. By 2020, there will be more than 40 million people worldwide with Alzheimer’s Disease and by 2040, without the development of disease modifying drugs, this will rise to more than 80 million. Currently no cure exists for these diseases: all current therapies for neurodegenerative diseases aim to relieve symptoms and do not target the process of neuron death.

Optic atrophy is a condition that affects the optic nerve, which carries impulses from the eye to the brain. Optic atrophy results from damage to the optic nerve from many kinds of pathologies. The condition can cause problems with vision, including blindness, glaucoma, stroke of the optic nerve, known as anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, tumor that is pressing on the optic nerve, optic neuritis, an inflammation of the optic nerve caused by multiple sclerosis, a hereditary condition known as Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON).

Optic atrophy is the end result of any disease that damages nerve cells anywhere between the retinal ganglion cells and the lateral geniculate body (anterior visual system). Damage and death of these nerve cells, or neurons, leads to characteristic features of optic neuropathy. The main symptom is loss of vision, with colors appearing subtly washed out in the affected eye.

Currently there is no treatment for primary optic atrophy. Available treatments are only treating the risk factors, e.g. glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, or diabetes.

ALS, known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a debilitating motor neuron disease (MND) which causes the death of neurons controlling voluntary movements. The average onset age is 55 years, and after the appearance of the first symptoms ALS progresses rapidly. Early symptoms of ALS usually include muscle weakness or stiffness. Gradually all muscles under voluntary control are affected, and individuals lose their strength and the ability to speak, eat, move, and even breathe. Most patients with ALS die from respiratory failure, usually within 2 to 5 years from when the symptoms first appear.