Juntendo University, Tokyo, established in 1838.

The longevity of our society, brought about by the benefits of improved medical technology and living conditions, has rather increased the percentage of people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases that develop with aging. The most common senile neurodegenerative diseases are Alzheimer's disease, which impairs memory, and Parkinson's disease, which impairs motor functions. It is clear that these diseases are caused by a marked degeneration of specific neuronal populations as we age, but the causes of neurodegeneration remain largely unknown. Our goal is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration, focusing on Parkinson's disease, which is the second most prevalent disease after Alzheimer's disease.

Parkinson's disease has been found to have progressed for about 20 years before the onset of motor symptoms. By the time motor symptoms appear, more than 70% of the dopaminergic neurons have degenerated, making effective treatment impossible. Early detection is the key to effective treatment. To do so, it is important to understand the mechanism of why dopamine neurons degenerate. In this department, we are working to elucidate this mechanism.