Environmental Factors in Neurodegenerative Diseases is the first volume of Advances in Neurotoxicology, a new series by Elsevier entirely devoted to the publication of state-of-the-art review in all areas of neurotoxicology and authored by authorities in the field.

The series, for which we expect one-two volumes per year, will have a flexible format, with most issues having a specific thematic emphasis. We will serve as Series Editors, and will also edit individual volumes such as this first one; however, it is expected that other colleagues will serve as guest editors of some volume devoted to specific neurotoxicology issues.

Free Chapter:  Aluminum and Neurodegenerative Diseases

This first volume of Advances of Neurotoxicology is devoted to discussions on environmental factors in neurodegenerative diseases. The various chapters, all be well established neurotoxicologists, discuss the role of selected environmental agents (air pollution, pesticides, metals, dietary components) in the etiology of the most significant human neurodegenerative disorders and their potential underlying mechanisms. Additional chapters focus on known targets of neurotoxicants (e.g. microglia, mitochondria) that may underlie the observed associations with neurodegenerations.

We believe that this series fills a gap in the growing field of neurotoxicology and the volumes will be of interest to academic researchers, research scientists and graduate students in universities and industry.

Series Editors

Dr. Michael Aschner serves as the Harold and Muriel Block Chair in Molecular Pharmacology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He served on numerous toxicology panels (Institute of Medicine, US Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Disease Control), and is a member of the Neurotoxicology and Alcohol study section (NIH). Research in our lab focuses on the following topics: (1) Modulation of C. elegans genes (aat, skn-1, daf-16) that are homologous to mammalian regulators of MeHg uptake and cellular resistance will modify dopaminergic neurodegeneration in response to MeHg exposure.  (2) Under conditions of MeHg-induced oxidative stress, Nrf2 (a master regulator of antioxidant responses) coordinates the upregulation of cytoprotective genes that combat MeHg-induced oxidative injury, and that genetic and biochemical changes that negatively impact upon Nrf2 function increase MeHg’s neurotoxicity. (3) PARK2, a strong PD genetic risk factor, alters neuronal vulnerability to modifiers of cellular Mn status, particularly at the level of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Our studies are designed to (1) shed novel mechanistic insight into metal-induced neurodegeneration; (2) identify targets for genetic or pharmacologic modulation of neurodegenerative disorders; (3) increase knowledge of the pathway involved in oxidative stress; (4) develop improved research models for human disease using knowledge of environmental sciences.

Dr. Lucio G. Costa is Professor of Toxicology at the University of Washington in Seattle and Professor of Pharmacology/Toxicology at the University of Parma Medical School. He received a doctorate in Pharmacology from the University of Milano in 1977, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas at Houston. He is a member of several national and international professional organizations, a Fellow of the Academy of Toxicological Sciences, and a European Certified Toxicologist. He received various award for his scientific accomplishments, including the Achievement Award from the Society of Toxicology. He serves in various editorial capacities for several toxicology journals, and is an active manuscript and grant reviewer. Dr. Costa has been the member of dozens of panels and committees at the national and international level dealing with toxicology and risk assessment issues. He has chaired and/or organized symposia at dozens of scientific meetings in the United States and internationally. He has been teaching classes in the area of toxicology, neurotoxicology and pharmacology to graduate and medical students for 30 years. He keeps an active research program in the area of neurotoxicology, with over 400 publications, books and book chapters.

Free Chapter from the First Volume

Advances in Neurotoxicology is available online via ScienceDirect. We are pleased to offer you an exclusive look at the first volume, Environmental Factors in Neurodegenerative Diseases, by offering this complimentary copy of the chapter:

 Aluminum and Neurodegenerative Diseases

This review assembles evidence derived from both epidemiological and laboratory studies that suggest exposure to aluminum salts may be more hazardous than generally recognized.