A fundraiser luncheon to assist those suffering from neurodegenerative diseases is being sponsored by the San Dieguito chapter of Brandeis National Committee on Tuesday, Dec. 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at a local home in Carlsbad. Members and non-members alike are welcome.

The cost to attend this silent auction holiday party is $25 per person and is a charitable contribution to Brandeis’s Sustaining the Mind fund which provides assistance to those afflicted by neurodegenerative diseases, according to a news release.

Neurodegenerative diseases are a type of disease in which cells of the central nervous system stop working or die. These are chronic conditions that cause the progressive loss and death of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

These diseases can be genetic, caused by a tumor or stroke, or the result of exposure to toxins, chemicals, or viruses. In some cases, the cause is unknown.Neurodegenerative diseases can affect many bodily functions, including movement, balance, talking, breathing and heart function. They can also cause mental functioning problems, known as dementias.

Some examples include Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntingtons disease, and Lou Gehrigs disease. Care for those afflicted by neurodegenerative diseases is expensive and faces resource limitations.

Event organizers are asking guests to bring a dish to share or a new or gently used item to be donated for others in attendance to bid on.

For more information, contact Margie Mopper at maspeech@aol.com or Iris Kanter at irisnk@comcast.net. Please respond by Dec. 6.