Source: 20 minuite.fr/sante
The wager has begun. The University Hospital Center in Lille recently revealed that a group of scientists is investigating “a promising therapy”, a “gamble” that, if successful, might transform the lives of those afflicted with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also referred to as Charcot’s illness.
ALS kills four people in France every day, while only affecting 500,000 people globally. It is nevertheless significantly more lethal than other neurological diseases.
The motor neurons in charge of breathing, speaking, and walking are attacked by ALS.
According to Lille University Hospital, this “leads to muscular atrophy and progressive paralysis, including respiratory functions.”
Success! The researchers and their colleagues saw “immediately edifying results” in their first pre-clinical trials, including a “130% increase in life expectancy.”
Currently, the plan is to “inject platelet derivatives into their brains via a pump placed in the abdomen” as a treatment for Charcot’s disease.
To get there, though, scientists will need to measure the treatment’s medium-term efficacy and demonstrate the treatment’s safety through toxicological testing.
Patients have great expectations, even though it can take several years to complete these processes.
In fact, according to Hospices Civils de Lyon, the average survival time following the onset of symptoms is three to four years; but, with the right treatment, this may increase to seven or nine years.
