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GS140021: Neurobiology of Disease
Neurodegenerative Diseases

Course Directors: Staley A. Brod, M.D. and John H. Byrne, Ph.D.

Fall 2007
Tuesdays 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Room MSB 7.037

Course Downloads

• 2007 Course Syllabus [ pdf ]

Course Description

This course is an integrated approach to neurological diseases. Each course has a specialized topic, and includes the description, the diagnosis, the treatments, and the biological mechanisms of the diseases under study.

The topic for Fall 2007 is "Neurodegenerative Diseases", and includes conditions where brain and spinal cord cells are lost resulting in changes in motor patterns, loss of sensory perception, and interference with memory and/or decision-making. Diseases that will be discussed in this course include multiple sclerosis, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), Alzheimer’s, other dementias, and degeneration in its broadest meaning associated with HIV infection, stroke, traumatic injury, and epilepsy. The mechanisms underlying neuronal loss need to be identified as symptoms are usually not expressed until significant neuronal loss has occurred. The importance of the discovery of biomarkers to identify individuals at risk before degeneration occurs will be addressed.

This course is a unique offering open to graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and post-graduate medical students.

Course Requirements

This is a Pass/Fail course based on attendance and a final exam.

Course Director Contact:

Dr. Staley A. Brod
E-mail Address: Staley.A.Brod@uth.tmc.edu
Office: MSB 7.044
Phone: (713) 500-7046