Researchers at Oregon Health and Science University have discovered that blocking a certain enzyme in the brain can help repair the brain damage associated with multiple sclerosis and a range of other neurological disorders. This discovery could have major implications for not only multiple sclerosis but also complications from premature birth and disorders that are caused by demyelination.
Demyelination disrupts the ability of nerve cells to communicate with each other, and produce sensory, motor and cognitive problems in MS and other disorders.
This study was conducted by Larry Sherman, Ph.d. who is a professor of cell and development biology at OHSU and a senior scientist in the Division of Neuroscience at the Oregon National Primate Research Center. Sherman states that any kind of therapy that can promote remyelination could be an absolute life-changer for the millions that suffer with MS and other disorders.
The next step is to develop drugs that specifically target this enzyme. Sherman and other researchers at ONPRC are positioned to test newly developed drugs for their safety and effectiveness on nonhuman primates. Sherman has cautioned that the discovery does not necessarily signal a cure for MS. But discovering the actions of this enzyme and finding a way to block it, could at the very least lead to new ways to help the repair of of both the brain and the spinal cord.
Reference:
Oregon Health & Science University (2012, October 31). Potential way to repair brain damage in multiple sclerosis. ScienceDaily.
Source: Oregon Health and Science University
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