ERN1 and brain ischemia: However, prolonged activation of IRE‐1α and CHOP can induce widespread cell apoptosis in various neurodegenerative disorders including TBI, cerebral ischemia and Alzheimer's disease (Kim et al., 2008; Larner et al., 2006; Szegezdi, Logue, Gorman, & Samali, 2006).