Editorial [Hot Topic: Approaches to Alzheimer's Disease and Other Chronic Degenerative Disorders (Guest Editor: H. Uri Saragovi)]

The year 2005 began in the wake of the most catastrophic natural disaster of modern times: the destructive tsunami which has devastated much of coastal Southeast Asia and resulted in enormous loss of life and human suffering. I'm sure many readers donated generously to the various relief efforts following this tragedy. To be faced with human suffering on such a scale is feel at times overwhelmed by the enormity of the task of helping the victims of such a disaster. The alleviation of suffering from the degenerative disorders of the nervous system is a long-sought goal for medicinal and pharmaceutical scientists, and the slow progress and severity of the diseases can likewise wear at the dedicated researcher. But progress is being made, surely if more slowly than we would like. It is the intention of Current Medicinal Chemistry-Central Nervous System Agents to pursue the topic of therapeutic approaches to chronic degenerative disorders of the nervous system is several Hot Topic issues. This month, Professor Uri Saragovi of McGill University has guest-edited a collection of articles focused on this topic. The topic of Alzheimer's Disease, discussed in two of these articles, will be reprised in a later Hot Topic issue. The present issue is rounded out by two exceptionally interesting articles: One by Prof. Martyn Wood on 5-HT2c receptors in the action of atypical antipsychotics, and a sweeping review by Prof. Stefan Przyborski and colleagues on the manipulation of neural progenitor pathways as an approach to neural restoration. It is hoped this issue's articles, and those of the future, provide a basis for readers' continued ruminations on how to apply their intellectual gifts and physical energy to bringing hope to those who currently have none.