Neurodegenerative diseases affect millions of people worldwide. In the United States alone, there are more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer's disease, and another million Americans have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. These diseases cause the death of neurons in the brain leading to a host of serious neurological and biological issues.
Alzheimer's disease is a specific form of dementia, and although the actual cause of the disease remains unknown, scientists currently are studying all aspects of this disease. The disorder affects the cerebral cortex and its synapses and neurons, which begin to die as the disease progresses. The brains of those affected by Alzheimer's also have been found to contain excessive amounts of proteins in the form of amyloid plaque.
The causes of Parkinson's disease are equally difficult to determine, but in general, scientists can point to gene mutations as the cause of these neurodegenerative disorders. In Parkinson's disease, it is the central nervous system which is affected by the death of cells that produce dopamine. The symptoms of Parkinson's include everything from uncontrollable tremors, muscular stiffness, balance problems, speech problems and even slower cognitive functioning.
Scientists currently are focusing their efforts at using gene therapy to slow the progression of these types of diseases and hopefully stop or cure the diseases before they progress to the point of debilitation. Gene therapy is a process by which DNA is used as a pharmaceutical agent. The scientists create a non-infectious type of virus that contains the gene and direct it into in a cell where it will then produce enzymes that slow down the progression of a disease or perhaps lessen the impact of the symptoms of the disease.
There have been several studies of using gene therapy to treat Parkinson's disease, and a few of these studies have yielded positive results. A 2011 study published in Lancet Neurology, for example, looked at the results of gene therapy in a double-blind trial. It was found that those people who received the gene therapy had a strong improvement in motor control compared with those who did not receive the therapy. This is just one of several gene therapy trials that have been successful in the treatment of Parkinson's.
The studies regarding Alzheimer's disease have been less successful; however, a 2011 study did show the reduction of the amyloid plaque when gene therapy was applied. The subjects in this study were mice who had been given an inactive HIV lentivirus, which causes the plaque to form much as it does in a patient with Alzheimer's. While these types of studies do not necessarily provide the hope a cure for the disease, they certainly suggest that it might soon be possible to slow or stop the progression of this debilitating condition.
Alzheimer's disease is a specific form of dementia, and although the actual cause of the disease remains unknown, scientists currently are studying all aspects of this disease. The disorder affects the cerebral cortex and its synapses and neurons, which begin to die as the disease progresses. The brains of those affected by Alzheimer's also have been found to contain excessive amounts of proteins in the form of amyloid plaque.
The causes of Parkinson's disease are equally difficult to determine, but in general, scientists can point to gene mutations as the cause of these neurodegenerative disorders. In Parkinson's disease, it is the central nervous system which is affected by the death of cells that produce dopamine. The symptoms of Parkinson's include everything from uncontrollable tremors, muscular stiffness, balance problems, speech problems and even slower cognitive functioning.
Scientists currently are focusing their efforts at using gene therapy to slow the progression of these types of diseases and hopefully stop or cure the diseases before they progress to the point of debilitation. Gene therapy is a process by which DNA is used as a pharmaceutical agent. The scientists create a non-infectious type of virus that contains the gene and direct it into in a cell where it will then produce enzymes that slow down the progression of a disease or perhaps lessen the impact of the symptoms of the disease.
There have been several studies of using gene therapy to treat Parkinson's disease, and a few of these studies have yielded positive results. A 2011 study published in Lancet Neurology, for example, looked at the results of gene therapy in a double-blind trial. It was found that those people who received the gene therapy had a strong improvement in motor control compared with those who did not receive the therapy. This is just one of several gene therapy trials that have been successful in the treatment of Parkinson's.
The studies regarding Alzheimer's disease have been less successful; however, a 2011 study did show the reduction of the amyloid plaque when gene therapy was applied. The subjects in this study were mice who had been given an inactive HIV lentivirus, which causes the plaque to form much as it does in a patient with Alzheimer's. While these types of studies do not necessarily provide the hope a cure for the disease, they certainly suggest that it might soon be possible to slow or stop the progression of this debilitating condition.
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Armand Zeiders loves blogging about biomedical research. For more info regarding custom monoclonal antibody production, please check out the PrimmBiotech.com site now.
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