Neuroscience integrates biology, chemistry and physics and involves the study of structure, physiology and behavior of the brain and nervous system. The field of neuroscience can be segmented into several key areas including neurodevelopment, neurotransmission, neuroendocrinology, sensory systems, cognition and behavior, and neurologic diseases and disorders. Neuroscientists within these fields focus on the development, maturation, and function of normal and diseased states of the brain and nervous system.
Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's are a major focus of neuroscience research due to their high prevalence in individuals over the age of 65. Alzheimer's Disease alone accounts for over 65,000 deaths per year in this age group in the United States. Accordingly, 25% of the nearly $5 billion NIH Neuroscience research budget in 2009 is dedicated to investigating the etiology, diagnosis, treatment and economic impact of these diseases.
The cellular responses to environmental stressors such as heat shock, oxidative stress, hypoxia, inflammation and reduced growth factors are known to contribute to neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer (see diagram).
Assay Designs offers a broad portfolio of kits, antibodies and proteins including Stressgen brand products. Our portfolio offering related to cellular stress includes products for the detection of key mediators of oxidative stress, protein folding including heat shock proteins and molecular chaperones, hypoxia, apoptosis, DNA damage, inflammation and important cell signaling pathways.