Chronic neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease, are characterized by a selective loss of specific subsets of neuronal populations over a period of years or even decades. While the underlying causes of the various neurodegenerative diseases are not clear, the death of neurons and the loss of neuronal contacts are key pathological features. Pinpointing molecular events that control neuronal cell death is critical for the development of new strategies to prevent and treat neurodegenerative disorders.