Neurodegenerative diseases result from progressive damage to cells and connections in the brain, spinal cord and nerves, impairing a person’s ability to move, think, communicate, or feel, and often ultimately lead to death.
Director's Messages
Around 1440, Gutenberg invented the printing press and since then science has been communicated in “papers”. However, current and future technologies for data storage and sharing offer new opportunities to enhance the value of meticulously collected data.
This Pain Awareness Month, I am reflecting on how the experience of pain reaches beyond its physical sensation. The pain circuits in our bodies are built to protect us from harm – for example, moving away from a hot flame, or building long-lasting memories/reflexive actions that prevent injurious behaviors.
NINDS is committed to funding research that, by improving our understanding of how the brain and nervous system works, reduces the burden of neurological disorders and injuries.
Clinician-scientists, who understand diseases and disorders intimately due to their clinical training and practice, are critical to accomplishing the NINDS mission.
In addition to creativity, hard work and persistence, scientific discovery relies on researchers’ support to pursue critically important but difficult questions. This frequently requires long-term approaches and the ability to redirect experimental approaches as the evolving science dictates.
In a wonderful opportunity to look ahead and steer the course and field of neuroscience research, I am happy to announce the new 2021-2026 NINDS Strategic Plan: Investing in the Future. We are compelled to conduct this exercise every five years as we take stock of our progress and update the strategic plan to reflect our core values, our stakeholder’s needs, and the best ways to go about achieving our mission.
May is Stroke Awareness Month, an opportunity to remember that despite amazing advances in research and clinical care, stroke continues to be the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of
Every day we are learning more about the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the nervous system—in some cases detrimental effects that last far longer than the infection.
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic and severe disease that, according to the CDC, affects up to 2.5 million Americans, many of whom have not been diagnosed. Active NINDS efforts are underway to seek a better understanding of ME/CFS in order to treat—and ultimately prevent—this disease.