A team of researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst is the first to show how proteins called "chaperones" are vital in ensuring that neurons can transmit signals to one another. When this neurotransmission breaks down, devastating diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's along with many others, can occur. The team's research provides new understanding of how the most crucial part of the process works and is a stepping stone toward understanding the underlying mechanics of neurodegenerative diseases.