510341 - NEUROBIOLOGY OF BRAIN DISORDERS

courses

ID:

510341

Duration (hours):

72

CFU:

SSD:

NEUROLOGIA

Year:

2025

Date/time interval

Primo Semestre (29/09/2025 - 16/01/2026)

Course Objectives

The student should be able to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the course to the understanding of the molecular basis of human diseases, as well as the rationale behind pharmacological treatments.
Specific objectives will be:
- To familiarize with the main symptoms of each brain disorder.
- To characterize the different molecular mechanisms associated to brain disorders.
- To understand how the brain is affected by different neurochemical and neurotoxic mechanisms to produce cellular and behavioural alterations in various brain disorders.
- To acquire knowledge on the current and perspective treatments for brain disorders.
- To learn the genetic and epigenetic bases of major neuropsychiatric disorders

Course Prerequisites

This is an advanced course on the mechanisms of major brain disorders. Knowledge of Year 1 Courses is necessary, particularly on organization of the mammalian nervous system from the developmental, neurochemical, neuropharmacological and neurogenetic point of view.

Teaching Methods

The course is organized in frontal lectures, carried out through PowerPoint presentations, complemented with video sessions, which will help students to see practical examples of human diseases. This activity will also include integration with case studies and simulation approaches. In addition, the training activities will be integrated by in-depth seminars. Formative assessment methods during the Lectures (e.g. mentimeter, wooclap) will be occasionally used to evaluate learning progress and understanding of the topics.

Assessment Methods

Each Lecturer will assess students independently and final marks will result from the mean of the three assessments.

For Module 1 assessment will consist in a written exam in Kiro Testing with 24 multiple-choice questions on the entire programme and two open-ended questions on 2 recent scientific papers proposed by the lecturer but chosen by each student from a set of 3. Each open question will value 6 points and the maximal achievable mark will be 36/30, considering the 24 multiple choice questions and the 12 points of the open questions. A final mark equal or above to 32/30 will be cum laude.

For Module 2 and 3 assessment will be oral.

The final evaluation is based on the degree of depth and understanding of the topics presented and on the ability to integrate the knowledge acquired during the course.

Texts

Slides in PDF format will be provided after each presentation, both on Kiro and on google drive. Scientific articles may also be suggested throughout the Lectures.

Suggested reference textbooks are:

Psychopharmacology: Drugs, The Brain, and Behavior, Third Edition, 2018, Meyer & Quenzer, Sinauer Associates

Molecular Neuropharmacology: A Foundation for Clinical Neuroscience, Fourth Edition, 2020, Nestler, Hyman and Malenka, McGraw-Hill Medical

Rosenberg's Molecular and Genetic Basis of Neurological and Psychiatric Disease, 6th Edition, 2020, Rosenberg and Pascual, Academic Press

Neurobiology of Disease, Second Edition, 2016, Johnston, Adams and Fatemi, Oxford University Press

The Programme of study is divided in three Modules, run by Prof. Riccardo Brambilla (Mod 1), Prof. Andrea Cortese (Mod. 2) and Prof. Antonio Pisani (Mod 3).

Main diseases of the brain that will be covered are:

Module 1: Neurodevelopmental and Psychiatric Disorders

- Drug Addiction
- Schizophrenia
- Intellectual Disability
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Fragile X Syndrome
- Rett Syndrome and related disorders
- Mechanisms of striatal degeneration and Huntington’s Disease

Module 2: Neurological Disorders 1

- Introduction to the main neurological syndromes
- Introduction to neurogenetics
- Repeat expansion diseases
- Motor neuron diseases
- Neuromuscular diseases
- Multiple sclerosis and other inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system

Module 3: Neurological Disorders 2

- Animal models of human diseases
- Neurodegenerative diseases: Mechanisms of neuronal damage
- Movement disorders: Parkinson's disease, parkinsonisms
- Chorea, dystonia
- Alzheimer's disease and dementias
- Epilepsies
- Neuropathic pain
- Biomarkers of neurological disease

Course Language

English

More information

For students with disabilities or DSA, student workers, students involved in caring for their family members, student parents, students at risk of dropping out, student athletes, the teacher will be available "ON DEMAND" through in-person meetings or through online platforms to understand the student's problems and find the most appropriate solutions.