neurodegenerative

adjective

neu·​ro·​de·​gen·​er·​a·​tive ˌnu̇r-ō-di-ˈje-nə-rə-tiv 

-ˈjen-rə-;

-ˈje-nə-ˌrā-;

-dē-, 

ˌnyu̇r-

: relating to or marked by degeneration of nervous tissue

Examples of neurodegenerative in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Parkinson's is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the degeneration of nerve cells, which become damaged and die, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. —Mason Leib, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026

Patrick died in the Northern Ireland Hospice after a three-year battle with motor neuron disease, a rare neurodegenerative disorder, his wife Naomi Sheehan posted on Instagram Wednesday, April 8. —Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026

The disruption of this process as we age is thought to contribute to the build-up of malformed proteins and the development of neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s. —Amanda Erickson, STAT, 7 Apr. 2026

In 2022, a University of Glasgow study found that rugby players were two and a half times more at risk of neurodegenerative disease, and up to 15 times more at risk of MND. —Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 6 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing neurodegenerative

• neurodegenerative disease
• neurodegenerative disorder

Rhymes for neurodegenerative

• degenerative
• regenerative
• generative

Medical Definition

neurodegenerative

adjective

neu·​ro·​de·​gen·​er·​a·​tive -di-ˈjen-ə-ˌrāt-iv, -di-ˈjen-(ə-)rət- 

: relating to or characterized by degeneration of nervous tissue

neurodegeneration

-di-ˌjen-ə-ˈrā-shən, -ˌdē- 

noun