Diagnosis and treatment for late onset neurodegenerative disorder

A method for diagnosing the molecular basis for a late-onset neurodegenerative disorder in a mammal, the method comprising:

• a) providing a biopsy sample comprising neuronal cells;
• b) determining expression level of AIF protein in the cells of step a);
• and
• c) comparing the level determined in step b) to an otherwise identical determination from the cells of an individual known to be unaffected by a late-onset neurodegenerative disorder, a substantial decrease in the level of expression of the AIF protein in the cells of the mammal to be diagnosed, as compared to the level from the cells of the mammal known to be unaffected by a late-onset neurodegenerative disorder, being indicative of the molecular basis for the late-onset neurodegenerative disorder in the mammal to be diagnosed.

A method for identifying a compound for mitigating ROS-induced damage associated with a late-onset neurodegenerative disorder in a mammal, the method comprising:

• a) providing a mutant cell line having decreased AIF protein activity;
• b) incubating the cells from step a) with:
• i) a compound to be tested for its ability to mitigate ROS-induced damage associated with late-onset neurodegenerative disorder in a mammal;
• and
• ii) an agent known to induce ROS damage at a concentration sufficient to induce ROS damage;
• and
• c) identifying a compound which mitigates ROS-induced damage by comparing the results of step b) with an otherwise identical step in which the compound to be tested is omitted.