In line with this, activation of the DAF-16/FOXO3a, one of the main downstream targets of the insulin/IGF-1 signaling, either genetically – encoding a nuclear targeted FOXO3a – or pharmacologically – using a specific compound called Psammaplysene A (PA) – protects both in vitro and in vivo against insults causing motor neuron disease (Mojsilovic-Petrovic et al., 2009). This evidence concerns the gene FOXO3 and motor neuron disorder.