DEF hope we fast track this: Curing Neuro-Degenerative Disease In Sight

[wiffleball 4,640]

Bookmarking for later. Pretty amazing if it pans out. Perhaps we could get billionaires to skip the joyrides to the moon in favor of funding this.

 

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-39641123

 

Scientists hope they have found a drug to stop all neurodegenerative brain diseases, including dementia

.
In 2013, a UK Medical Research Council team stopped brain cells dying in an animal for the first time, creating headline news around the world.

But the compound used was unsuitable for people, as it caused organ damage.

Now two drugs have been found that should have the same protective effect on the brain and are already safely used in people.
"It's really exciting," said Prof Giovanna Mallucci, from the MRC Toxicology Unit in Leicester.
She wants to start human clinical trials on dementia patients soon and expects to know whether the drugs work within two to three years.

Why might they work?
The novel approach is focused on the natural defence mechanisms built into brain cells.
When a virus hijacks a brain cell it leads to a build-up of viral proteins.
Cells respond by shutting down nearly all protein production in order to halt the virus's spread.
Many neurodegenerative diseases involve the production of faulty proteins that activate the same defences, but with more severe consequences.
The brain cells shut down production for so long that they eventually starve themselves to death.
This process, repeated in neurons throughout the brain, can destroy movement, memory or even kill, depending on the disease.
It is thought to take place in many forms of neurodegeneration, so safely disrupting it could treat a wide range of diseases.
In the initial study, the researchers used a compound that prevented the defence mechanism kicking in.
It halted the progress of prion disease in mice - the first time any neurodegenerative disease had been halted in any animal.

Further studies showed the approach could halt a range of degenerative diseases.

 

[NorthernVike 2,080]

I don't know man. Old people gotta die from something.

[frank 2,145]

Are you a girl? SB means Super Bowl. I assumed Trump was making it a holiday.

[supermike80 1,286]

Wow. This is very cool

[DonS 3,067]

Are you a girl? SB means Super Bowl. I assumed Trump was making it a holiday.

Hah! I thought the exact same thing!

[jerryskids 5,206]

Are you a girl? SB means Super Bowl. I assumed Trump was making it a holiday.

 

I know right?! What does he mean by SB anyway? "Should Be"?

[penultimatestraw 473]

Great to pursue further research, but the media enthusiasm is a little over the top. Trazodone has been around forever, and been used by more than a few demented patients.

[Alias Detective 1,179]

Great to pursue further research, but the media enthusiasm is a little over the top. Trazodone has been around forever, and been used by more than a few demented patients.

 

Fake news perhaps?

[penultimatestraw 473]

Fake news perhaps?

No, just the typical handling of medical "breakthroughs". There was a recent study on vitamin C for sepsis that they did the same. At least that one was performed on humans.

 

My point is, animal studies aren't enough. Neither is a single small trial with people. Medical advances take time, and providing false hope isn't helping anyone.

[Djgb13 2,338]

I've seen a lot of different studies where they have cured/reversed different diseases. They are still years away from getting it approved for public use but it's encouraging to say the least

[fandandy 3,311]

No, just the typical handling of medical "breakthroughs". There was a recent study on vitamin C for sepsis that they did the same. At least that one was performed on humans.

 

My point is, animal studies aren't enough. Neither is a single small trial with people. Medical advances take time, and providing false hope isn't helping anyone.

It's not like they will remember hearing about it anyway.

 

Yayyy! Great news, I'm excited.

 

That's great dad.

 

I feel like I should be excited about something but I can't remember what.

 

I'm gonna make you a grilled cheese for lunch.

 

Yayyy, I'm excited, ... and hungry. What's for lunch??