>From Canadian Press as published in last week's Hamilton (Ontario, Canada) Spectator Degenerative Disease Breakthrough Made by Kingston (Ontario, Canada) Scientists A breakthrough made by two Queen's University medical researchers may help scientists conquer degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Multiple Sclerosis. Clinical neurologist Dr. Rick Riopelle and biochemist Greg Ross have been able to demonstrate in a laboratory how drugs can stop neuro-degenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, and ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). The researchers, working at the Apps Medical Research Centre in Kingston General Hospital, have discovered the conditions that block a self-destructive process in cells. Results of the two-year study were published Friday in Science magazine. "We're very excited," said Mr. Ross. "It really gives us a whole new view of approaches we may take to developing drugs that could be useful in treating these disorders." The breakthrough has personal meaning for Mr. Ross. His 70-year-old grandmother died from the neuro-degenerative disorder Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. "It's a devastating disorder," he said. The researchers examined two protein molecules, one a receptor and the other a signal for cells to destroy themselves. They were able to develop a drug that blocked the receptor so that the self-destruct message didn't get through. The process is necessary, said Mr. Ross, so that cells in the brain can be eliminated when they make wrong connections. "Cells have to have the ability to kill themselves," said Mr.. Ross, "and during development in people under the age of two years old, the ability...is an absolute requirement. "But the problem is that the cell may inappropriately use these same mechanisms in the mature nervous system, where you don't want these cells to die." Mr. Ross said the discovery won't produce immediate results for sufferers because the drug researchers used can't be used for treatment because it's dissolved by the body too quickly. But the discovery will be key in determining the kind of drug that could stop such degenerative diseases, Mr. Ross said. That could take more than a decade, he added. =========================================================================== Barbara Patterson [log in to unmask] HSC 2J22 905-525-9140, ext. 22403 School of Nursing ===========================================================================