Disease Focus Areas

ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control.

Myotonic dystrophy is part of a group of inherited disorders called muscular dystrophies. Although it is the most common form of muscular dystrophy, it also affects many other body systems, including the heart and brain.

SCA is one of a group of genetic disorders characterized by slowly progressive incoordination of gait and is often associated with poor coordination of hands, speech, and eye movements.

Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a fatal genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. It deteriorates a person’s physical and mental abilities usually during their prime working years and has no cure.

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly; beginning with subtle memory loss and progressing relentlessly. AD ultimately involves higher cognitive functions, leading to complete incapacitation and death.

The field of neurogenetic diseases, is constantly growing and evolving. Other diseases of interest to CNG faculty include neuropsychiatric disorders, cancer, macular degeneration and many more.