Neurodegenerative diseases are diseases associated with both the abnormal build-up of toxic aggregates of protein and the death of neurons (brain cells) in particular areas of the brain. This class of diseases includes multiple conditions, but the two most common are dementia and Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Dementia is the second leading cause of death in Australia. There are more than 413,106 Australians living with dementia, with one new case diagnosed every 6 minutes. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting up to 70% of all people with dementia. Without a medical breakthrough soon, the number of Australians with dementia is expected to soar to more than 900,000 by 2050.