BAX and Machado-Joseph disease: Hence, the most affected neurons and other cells in the DCN and pons of MJD patients [4] are most probably dead and absent at the end stage of disease and, therefore, the increased anti-apoptotic signs (BCL2/BAX ratio) observed in both brain regions could indicate that the surviving glial and neuronal cells in these two affected regions activate survival protection mechanisms at the end-stage of MJD.