By delineating new functions of HDAC4 in neurogenic muscle atrophy, our work represents a step-forward toward the development of efficient pharmaceutical approaches for neurogenic muscle atrophy, possibly by combining HDAC inhibitors with antioxidant drugs or with other treatments aiming to boost the catabolic pathways in skeletal muscle, otherwise compromised using HDAC inhibitors. The gene discussed is HDAC9; the disease is muscle atrophy.