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New clue to Huntington’s disease
Why it is in news?
- A study by researchers at the Department of Genetics, Delhi University, has shown that it is possible to restrict the progression of Huntington’s disease by increasing insulin signalling in the brain’s neuronal cells.
- The enhanced level of insulin signalling rejuvenates the neuronal cells which are otherwise stressed during disease condition.
What is Huntingtons Disease?
This disease
- It is an inherited disorder that results in death of brain cells.
- Afflicted individuals lose their ability to walk, talk, think and reason.
- The earliest symptoms are often subtle problems with mood or mental abilities.begins between ages 30 and 45, and every individual with the gene for the disease will eventually develop the disease
- It is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder, which means that even if one parent carries the defective Huntington’s gene, their offspring has a 50:50 chance of inheriting the disease
- There is no treatment or cure for Huntington’s at present.
But there are treatments available to reduce the severity of some of its symptoms
Source
The Hindu