New review of MND mitochondria research published
Aug 2019: First review of MND laboratory research on interventions targeting mitochondria suggests positive effect on survival.
A comprehensive review of existing motor neurone disease (MND) pre-clinical laboratory (animal model) research has found that treatments targeting dysfunction in mitochondria have the potential to extend the survival of people with MND. Mitochondria are structures within the cells of the human body that produce energy. The review also showed that the extension of survival was particularly linked to interventions being administered early.
The work has been published by Euan MacDonald Centre early-career researchers, Dr Arpan Mehta and Dr Jenna Gregory, from the University of Edinburgh,
Dr Mehta, Dr Gregory and their colleagues combined and analysed the results of 76 research studies looking at the ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) form of MND. It is hoped this review will stimulate MND researchers to focus on finding new treatments based on boosting mitochondrial function. Systematic reviews help researchers decide where their efforts in the lab should be targeted to increase the likelihood of finding new and effective treatments sooner.
