Abstract
The endolysosomal system has recently come under heavy scrutiny as a potentially major contributor to the progression of late-onset neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, I highlight our current understanding of the endolysosomal system, and the Rab GTPase cascade regulating significant portions of its normal progression. Dysfunction in this cascade potentially accounts for many well-documented cellular phenotypes pertaining to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease. Despite extensive study, many of the molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of late-onset neurodegenerative diseases remain elusive. The use of systems biology approaches appears to be the most promising route forward for understanding the etiologies of the systemic disorder observed in these diseases, which are likely to be highly variable between individuals.