PPARGC1A and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: PGC-1α is considered a neuroprotective target because a pathogenic role for PGC-1α dysregulation has been ubiquitously found in NDs (i.e., AD, PD, HD, and ALS) (Qin et al., 2009; Zheng et al., 2010; Johri et al., 2012; Thau et al., 2012).