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Groundbreaking progress in Huntington’s disease research

12 décembre 2017, 10:15

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Groundbreaking progress in Huntington’s disease research

A drug trial aimed at slowing the progression of Huntington’s disease has shown positive result in what has been branded as an “enormously significant” step in the search for a cure. Current medication available on the market can help in dealing with the symptoms of the disease but none have so far had any effect in slowing it.

Huntington’s disease is a congenital degenerative condition that is often diagnosed in middle-aged patients. Symptoms range from depression to cognitive difficulties. There is currently no cure available for one of the worst degenerative diseases but this drug trial conducted by researchers at the University College London’s Huntington’s Disease Centre is the closest scientists have been in finding one. 

Professor Sarah Tabrizi, director of the centre, argued that the results were more than they expected. “The results of this trial are of groundbreaking importance for Huntington’s disease patients and families,” she said. “For the first time a drug has lowered the level of the toxic disease-causing protein in the nervous system, and the drug was safe and well-tolerated.”.

The next step for the researchers is to have a much larger sample – the current research was carried out on only 46 patients in the UK, Germany and Canada – and over a longer period of time.