The aberrant activity of S2R-mediated cellular processes, believed to be triggered by cellular stresses and exacerbated in aged cells, is a hallmark of the dysfunction underlying degenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, α-synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, and retinal diseases, such as dry AMD. The gene discussed is TMEM97; the disease is neurodegenerative disease.