C. elegans and Neurodegeneration In Caenorhabditis Elegans: Anatomy, Life Cycles and Biological Functions

Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Huntington’s Disease (HD) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) are some of the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases, with ‘neurodegeneration’ referred to as a conglomeration of pathological hallmarks, such as dying back of neurons and neuronal cell death. The prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases is increasing as the population ages and life span increases, reflecting upon the improvement in lifestyle and healthcare. The molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases remain elusive as exposure to environmental contaminants influencing the neurodegenerative pathology is generally lacking. Nevertheless, improvements in diagnosis have greatly enhanced the understanding of the neuropathology and the relationship between environment, genetics and risk susceptibility.