Does Huntington's disease cure?

2002/04/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Medikuntza

Researchers at Stanford University have discovered a possible treatment for Huntington's disease. By encouraging the brain's natural reaction against the disease, they managed to increase survival and reduce vibrations in rats with the evil that mimics Huntington's disease.

Huntington's disease is based on the malfunction of a gene. The gene called Huntingtin synthesizes 6 to 34 glutamine molecules at the end of a protein. The disease occurs by the synthesis of 36 glutamines or more, which bind together and cause brain collapse.

After treating rats with a compound called cystamina, survival increased by 20% and vibrations decreased. Seeing that cystamine triggered three brain protective genes, they discovered that the compound contributes to the brain's self-defense. Thus, the use of cystamine and other compounds has allowed to open a new route of treatment against the disease.