The 8th International Winter Conference on Neurodegeneration from Febru ary 9 to 13, 2000 took place in Tegernsee, Bavaria, Germany. The interest shown in this symposium, which was carried by invited speakers only, was striking. 28 lectures in 5 sessions dealt with themes on basic science and therapy strategies for neurodegenerative illness. This time especially basic mechanism of cell death and resulting causal treatment possibilities were centre themes of the lectures and lively discussions. In accordance with tradi tion 5 lectures on Multiple Sclerosis finished the convention. 60 scientists from 13 countries discussed current questions to these themes. The Symposium started with a lecture on the history of the develop ment of modern-L-DOPA-therapy. Lectures on cell death of dopaminergic nerve cells, new valuation regarding assembly, built up and function of neuromelanin of Substantia nigra and with this, the question of the physio logic and pathobiochemical role of dopamine and neuromelanin built the first block of themes which consequently extended to molecular and genetic aspects of cell death. Highlights of the symposium were neuroprotective and neuroregenerative future therapy strategies together with discussions on the difficulties of clinical neuroprotection. Developmental biological aspects on nerve cells, reorganisation and neurodegeneration showed a stimulating point of view of momentary and future development possibilities of new and more causal forms of therapy of neurodegenerative illness.

Inhalt
The L-DOPA story revisited. Further surprises to be expected?.- The enigma of cell death in neurodegenerative disorders.- Impaired iron homeostasis in Parkinson's disease.- The molecular mechanism of dopamine-induced apoptosis: identification and charac te rization of genes that med iate dopamine toxicity.- Glyce raldehyde-3-phosp hate dehydrogenase in neurodegenerat ion and apoptosis signaling.- Import ance of familial Parkinson's disease and parkinsonism to the understand - ing of nigraI degener at ion in sporadic Parkinson's disease.- cDNA microarray to study gene expression of dopaminergic neurodegeneration and neuroprotection in MPTP and 6 hydroxydopamine models: implications for idiopathic Parkinson's disease.- Moni toring neurop rotection and restorative therapies in Parkinson's disease with PET.- Common properties for prop argylamines of enhancing superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the dopaminergic system in the rat: implications for the life prolonging effect of ( 2212; )deprenyl.- TV3326, a novel neuro protective dru g with cholinesterase and monoamine oxidase inhibito ry activities for the treatm ent of Alzheimer's disease.- Neurotoxins induce apoptosis in dopamine neurons: prot ection bei N-propargylamine- l(R)- and (5)-aminoi ndan, rasagi line and TV1022.- Homocysteine and alcoholism.- Neur orescuing effects of the GAPDH ligand CGP 34668.- The neuroprotective effects of CGP 34668 in the best in vivo model of Parkinson's disease, the bilaterally MPTP-treated rhesus monke.- Neurotrophic effects of central nicotinic receptor activation.- Regulation of neuronal cell death and differentiation by NGF and IAP family members.- Insulin-like growth factor- 1 (IGF-1): a neuroprotective trophic factor acting via the Aktinase pathway.-GDF-15/MIC-1 a novel member of the TGF-? superfamily.- Changes in cytokines and neurotrophins in Parkinson's disease.- Psychiatric complications in Parkinson's disease.- Dementia with Lewy bodies: prevalance, clinical spectrum and natural history.- Neuronal degeneration and reorganization: a mutual principle in pathological and in healthy interactions of limbic and prefrontal circuits.- Depression in alpha-synucleinopathies: prevalence, pathophysiology and treatment.- The serotonin transporter in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.- Immunopathogenic and clinical relevance of antibodies against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) in Multiple Sclerosis.- Lessons from studies of antigen-specific T cell responses in Multiple Sclerosis.- Glutamate excitotoxicity a mechanism for axonal damage and oligodendrocyte death in Multiple Sclerosis?.- Evidence for enhanced neuro-inflammatory processes in neurodegenerative diseases and the action of nitrones as potential therapeutics.