Huntington’s disease is one of the most complicated and rare conditions that can affect a person’s overall health and wellness. It remains incurable but a recent study conducted by a group of researchers from the U.S., South Korea, and Sweden can change that. They use cell programming in treating Huntington’s in rats hoping it will lead to a new scientific breakthrough.
According to Dr. Patrik Brundin, a researcher from Andel Institute, reprogrammed skin cells can reverse the damages caused by Huntington’s disease after they successfully proven that it restored motor functions in rats.
Brundin and fellow researchers took stem cells from the skin of a patient suffering from Huntington’s and transformed them into brain or nerve cells. They were then transplanted into the brains of rats with the disease. They found out that the ttransplant improved the rat’s motor functions.
Jihwan Song, associate professor from CHA University in Seoul, said that the transplanted cells became genetically identical with the patient so there’s no need for medications to prevent rejection.
After this success, the researchers are planning to conduct a new study on finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease. However, these findings are still new and a clinical trial needs to be done to ensure the procedure is really effective in treating human patients as well.
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