Several studies have indicated that upregulation of Bax and downregulation of Bcl-2 trigger cytochrome c release from the mitochondria into the cytosol, leading to apoptosis and eventually may contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases (Savory et al., 2003; Lin and Beal, 2006). This evidence concerns the gene BCL2 and neurodegenerative disease.