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Scientists have new theory on why neurons die in degenerative diseases WebPosted Wed Jul 12 16:24:25 2000 http://cbc.ca/cgi-bin/templates/view.cgi?/news/2000/07/12/neurodegen000712 TORONTO - A new theory means new hope in the search for treatment against inherited neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington's and Parkinson's. Neurodegenerative diseases develop as a person loses neurons, the cells that carry information to and from the brain, and the condition worsens as more cells die. The Hospital for Sick Children The medical community has always believed the neurons died because of cumulative damage caused by mutant cells. But researchers are saying this theory is wrong. A team of scientists led by The Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto is proposing a new model that suggests cell death in neurodegenerative diseases occurs randomly during the life of a patient. The researchers say their "Mutant Steady State Model" shows that although mutant cells increase the risk of cells dying, cells that survive will are not seriously damaged and will continue to function normally for years. The theory is an important step because it means cells that can be saved by treatment are likely to work normally, they're not sick or permanently damaged as originally thought. Saving neurons is vital to treatment because they can't be replaced. And people can only lose a certain number of neurons before they start to develop symptoms, like the tremors patients with Parkinson's disease get. The study, which appears in this week's issue of the journal Nature, is based on mathematical equations the scientists say predict the rate of neuron deaths when accumulated damage is considered the cause. The researchers found neuronal death data collected by other investigators wasn't consistent with the cellular damage theory. The scientists hope their work will lead to new research into treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. •LINKS: Websites related to this story •The Hospital for Sick Children news release http://www.sickkids.on.ca/releases/neurogenetic.asp •The University of Toronto news release http://www.newsandevents.utoronto.ca/bin1/000712a.asp •Nature magazine (needs subscription) http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/dynapage.taf?file=/nature/journal/v406/n6792/i ndex.html&filetype= On-line Learning Series of Courses http://www.bestnet.org/~jwalker/course.htm Member: Association for International Business _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ _/ _/ _/ John S. Walker _/ _/ Publisher, CSS Internet News (tm) _/ _/ (Internet Training and Research) _/ _/ PO Box 57247, Jackson Stn., _/ _/ Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8P 4X1 _/ _/ Email [log in to unmask] _/ _/ http://www.bestnet.org/~jwalker _/ _/ _/ _/ "To Teach is to touch a life forever" _/ _/ On the Web one touch can reach so far! _/ _/ _/ _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/