Could a Canadian breakthrough lead to an ALS cure?
Jun 7, 2024
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Discover the groundbreaking ALS research by Western University, offering hope for a cure. Learn about the new protein RGNF that shows promise in halting motor neuron death. Explore the emotional toll of ALS on patients and caregivers, and the challenges in developing effective treatments. Dr. Michael Strong shares insights on the impact of ALS and the advancements in managing symptoms.
Researchers have identified a protein imbalance in ALS that can restore cellular balance and functionality.
Potential clinical trials in humans for ALS treatment could start within the next three to five years.
Deep dives
Understanding ALS - A Devastating Neurological Disease
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, affects around 4,000 Canadians and is part of the big three diseases of aging alongside Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. It primarily impacts nerve supply to muscles, causing weakness and wasting, leading to respiratory failure within three to five years. Living with ALS is described as progressively debilitating, affecting motor function, speech, and swallowing, profoundly impacting both patients and their caregivers.
Breakthrough in ALS Research - Restoring Balance in Cellular Processes
Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in ALS research by identifying a protein imbalance that leads to the degeneration of motor neurons. They discovered a protein that counteracts the effects of the toxic protein found in ALS, restoring cellular balance and functionality without removing the protein aggregates. This represents a paradigm shift in understanding ALS progression and offers new avenues for potential treatments.
Promising Future in ALS Treatment - From Mice Models to Clinical Trials
The groundbreaking results in mice models have paved the way for potential clinical trials in humans within the next three to five years. Collaborative international efforts are underway to further refine the treatment, ensuring safety, efficacy, and affordability for widespread availability. The research findings have generated hope and optimism within the ALS community, offering a glimpse of potential advancements in mitigating the impact of this devastating disease.
Scientists are very careful about throwing around words like 'breakthrough' or 'cure'—especially when it comes to diseases like ALS that are so devastating to their victims. But the past few months have seen an incredible sense of optimism around research being done by a team at Western University, who seem to have found a way to prevent the cell death that is the core of the disease.
How did they make this discovery? How does it work so far in experiments? And why is this step turning heads around the entire medical world?
GUEST: Dr. Michael Strong, professor of neurology at Western University's Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry; Arthur J. Hudson Chair in ALS Research
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