1. A varied assortment of central nervous system disorders characterized by gradual and progressive loss of neural tissue.
2. Hereditary and sporadic conditions which are characterized by progressive nervous system dysfunction. These disorders are often associated with atrophy of the affected central or peripheral nervous system structures.

"The ability to operate on individual brain cells without killing them in the process could allow scientists to study how the cells regenerate and might lead to better treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's."