To determine the importance of sustaining the increased levels of neuronal AEG-1 in the adult nigrostriatal DA system and, consequently, the potential of AEG-1 overexpression as a therapeutic approach for PD, we examined the effects of AEG-1 overexpression following post treatment with AAV-Rheb(S16H) on the functional recovery of nigral DA neurons and induction of axonal regeneration in damaged DA neurons9,10,12. This evidence concerns the gene RHEB and Parkinson disease.