[S-18] Preclinical pathogenesis and therapy for neurodegeneration

[S-18-4] RISCA: preclinical cohort of spinocerebellar ataxia

Thomas Klockgether (Department of Neurology, University of Bonn, Germany)

Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by a progressive decline of the motor and/or cognitive function caused by a selective loss of neurons within the central nervous system. Pathological changes at molecular and cellular levels precede the clinical onset by several years, underscoring a pressing need for initiation of interventions before the emergence of neurological symptoms. Using exquisite biomarkers, recent studies revealed the preclinical and prodromal progression of pathophysiology, as well as compensatory brain responses in several neurodegenerative diseases. This session aims to discuss the recent advancement of biomarker studies on presymptomatic subjects and the perspective on a preventive trial of disease-modifying therapies for devastating neurological disorders.

1974-1980 University of Göttingen, Medical School
1980 Promotion (summa cum laude)
1981-1983 Resident, Dept. of Medicine and Anaesthesiology, Oldenburg
1983-1987 Dept. of Pharmacology, Max-Planck-Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen
1987-1991 Resident, Dept. of Neurology, University of Tübingen
1991-1998 Senior Physician, Dept. of Neurology, University of Tübingen
since 1998 Professor of Neurology and Clinical Director, Dept. of Neurology, University of Bonn
2008-2011 Dean of the Medical Faculty, University of Bonn
since 2011 Director of Clinical Research, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)