Scientists reveal breakthrough in motor neurone disease

Over 1,500 people are diagnosed with motor neurone disease in the UK each year. There is no known cure and more than half die within two years of diagnosis.

Scientists are now a step closer to being able to reverse the damage caused by the degenerative condition, by finding a problem with patients’ nerve cells which could be repaired by repurposing drugs approved for other diseases.

The research found that the damage to nerve cells caused by MND could be repaired by improving the energy levels in mitochondria the power supply to the motor neurons.

They found in human cell models of MND, the axon – the long part of the motor neuron cell that connects to the muscle – was shorter than in healthy cells, and the movement of the mitochondria which travel up and down the axons, was impaired.

Study leader Dr Arpan Mehta of Euan MacDonald Centre for MND research, said “The importance of the axon in motor nerve cells cannot be understated.

“Our data provides hope that by restoring the cell’s energy source we can protect the axons and their connection to muscle from degeneration.

“Work is already underway to identify existing licensed rugs that can boost the mitochondria and repair the motor neurons. This will then pave the way to test them in clinical trials.”

Chief executive of MND Scotland, Craig Stockton, said “We look forward to seeing if these positive results can be replicated for patients.

“Once researchers have identified a drug they believe could have the desired effect, this treatment could then be fast-tracked for human trials using the pioneering MND-SMART clinical trial platform – into which MND Scotland has invested £1.5m.

“Researchers, clinicians, charities and supporters are all working hard to take us closer to finding a cure and by joining together we’ll get to that day even sooner.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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