The University of Utah
publishes information regarding one of the most severe genetic diseases found in humans, Huntington’s Disease. Huntington’s Disease is caused by a genetic mutation on chromosome 4. The disease causes harm by destroying the brain’s basal ganglia. It is believed that this is caused by oxidative damage to mitochondria. This part of the brain controls important functions such as thinking and movement. A recent article published in
Science Daily highlighted the work being done by scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The scientists have synthesized a new compound that alleviates the symptoms of Huntington’s Disease in mice.
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The compound being tested is an antioxidant called XJB-5-131. It is believed that the compound is able to improve the health of mitochondria and prevent the degradation of neurons. The Huntington’s mice that were given the compound behaved and looked like mice that did not have the disease. The scientists tested the motor skills and grip strength of mice with Huntington’s disease after being given XJB-5-131. Nearly all of the affected mice were able to pass these tests, and the Huntington’s mice that were not given the compound performed much more poorly in the tests. The scientists also studied the mitochondria of the mice that were given XJB-5-131 and found that the compound lessened the oxidative damage on the mitochondria. With the success of XJB-5-131, the scientists are testing if derivatives of the compound yield better results.
The results from this study may lead to a cure for Huntington’s Disease. This is incredibly important because of the severity of the disease. Huntington’s Disease typically begins in people aged 30 to 50. Upon the onset of the disease, a person will only live for 10 to 20 more years. A cure derived from XJB-5-131 may allow those affected with the disease to live much longer and healthier lives. This would benefit both the people with the disease and those present in their lives.
Hopefully the results obtained from the mice can be used on humans sometime soon. This is a very tragic diesease among most humans, and if it can work among people that would save many lives. A lot of people going through the process of aging are already being diagnosed with several other dieseases and this can definintely be the worst of the worse.
ReplyDeleteHi Brian, I thought that this was an extremely interesting article. The fact that the antioxidant XJB-5-131 has been observed to effectively reduce the symptoms of Huntington's diseases within the examined mice population was astounding. Though such research is optimistic, much more research is needed before practical application. Stating such, the power of such a readily-available substance as XJB-5-131 could have a revolutionary impact on the treatment on many neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's as well as Huntington's disease.
ReplyDeleteAre there any human clinical trials yet for XJB-5-131? If so, how might one refer a patient?
ReplyDeleteWhile I was so excited to read this, it frustrates me how long things take to get to a clinical trial. People dying from this disease would gladly use themselves for these trials knowing that any hope is better than none. I have been hearing about all these new break throughs for over 10 years and still nothing. This one I know is new, but there were others. I have already lost a husband and now wait and watch my children patiently.. Is it true other countries bring these trials about quicker??? I will travel anywhere.
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