Research breakthrough in race to find MND cure

SCIENCE: Hopes are raised after St Andrews team identify rogue cells

Scientists at St Andrews University have identified cells key to motor neurone disease (MND) and hope the research breakthrough brings a cure a step closer.

There is currently no known cure for the degenerative condition, which causes signals from motor neurone nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord needed to control movement to gradually stop reaching the muscles.

High profile victims include the late physicist professor Stephen Hawking, former footballers Jimmy Johnstone and Fernando Ricksen, Gordon Aikman of Fife, and actor David Niven.

Richard Selley from Glenalmond, Perthshire, who ended his life in Switzerland this year, was a sufferer.

Scottish rugby international Doddie Weir is battling the disease and is in the midst of a high-profile campaign to raise awareness and funds.

Researchers at St Andrews and Edinburgh universities used stem cell technology to identify a type of cell that can cause motor neurones to fail.

Using cells from patient skin samples, they found glial cells become damaging to motor neurones in the patients with the condition. Researchers found glial cells from MND patients can cause motor neurones to stop producing the signals needed to control muscles.

Professor Gareth Miles, of St Andrews University, who helped lead the joint project, said: “We are very excited by these new findings, which clearly point the finger at glial cells as key players in this devastating disease.

“We hope this new information highlights targets for the development of much-needed treatments and ultimately a cure for MND.”

The joint research was published in the scientific journal Glia.

Dr Steven Karlsson-brown, MND Scotland’s research and education officer, said: “We are thrilled by the findings and I thank Professor Miles and his team for all of their efforts.

“Their work has helped us expand our knowledge of this complex illness and we hope this discovery will take us closer to finding effective treatments and ultimately a cure. This study shows us that MND Scotland is leading the fight back against MND in Scotland and our effort is powered by an army of fundraisers.”

Motor neurone disease is a terrible degenerative condition which blocks the signals from nerve cells in the brain and spinal cords and prevents them from reaching the muscles.

It is cruel and relentless. There is no cure and until very recently little has been known about what causes it.

However, it is also a disease which has been characterised by the courage of those who have been afflicted, and in recent years this has lent it a higher profile and placed a greater focus on finding a breakthrough.

Just days ago, Scottish rugby legend Doddie Weir was presented with a special prize at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards in recognition of all that his charity, the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, has done to aid research and improve the life of fellow sufferers.

Another Scot, Gordon Aikman from Fife, dealt with his diagnosis in similarly gutsy fashion, fighting for improved care for MND patients and raising more than £500,000 to fund medical research before his death in 2017.

So it is fitting that it is Fife scientists who are now spearheading efforts to defeat MND. The team at St Andrews University, working with colleagues in Edinburgh, has identified a cell that causes the motor neurones to fail.

It is an exciting step forward for research and holds out new hope that a treatment, and ultimately, a cure will be found. The best brains and the bravest hearts in the land are battling this disease. What chance does it stand?

Picture: PA. Doddie Weir is in the midst of a campaign to raise awareness.

Gordon Aikman.