**Abstract**

Despite its vulnerability to neurodegenerative diseases, the neuromuscular junction has developed powerful ways to withstand injury and regenerate. Individuals with neurodegenerative diseases have a shorter life expectancy. Most existing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases only address symptoms. In order to limit the harmful effects, it is important to develop successful therapies to setback the symptoms of these debilitating diseases. Though some neurodegenerative disorders are fatal, most lead to health complications that are associated with high mortality rates. Although this difference might be a matter of semantics, we consider it significant, not only for managing the patient but also for our understanding of the actual consequences of the neurodegenerative process.

**Keywords:** neuron, oxidative stress, dementia, glial cells, astrocytes
