Huntington’s disease has been studied for centuries throughout the world. First described by George Huntington, an American physician in 1872, the disease was originally depicted as a medical mystery. However, as time progressed the illness has become a point of central interest and focus of both doctors and scientists (Huntington’s Disease Society of America). Over the past few decades the cause and effect of Huntington’s disease has been closely examined by scientists and medical professionals across the globe. Although recently, two English scientists and professors have discovered a treatment for this harsh illness.

Huntington’s disease is a “fatal genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of the nerve cells in the brain” (Huntington’s Disease Society of America). This disease alters the patient emotionally and physically, and until now it had no cure. An individual with Huntington’s may begin to experience symptoms such as persistent motor dysfunction, memory fog, and behavioral changes in their 30s to 40s. According to scientists Ed Wild and Sarah Tabrizi, patients who receive the newfound treatment have demonstrated a 75% decrease in the progression of the disease. By utilizing a gene therapy through a 12 to 18 hours brain surgery, the patient is introduced to a safe virus meant to alter and change the design of specific DNA. As described by BBC, the virus “is infused deep into the brain using real-time MRI scanning to guide a microcatheter to two brain regions – the caudate nucleus and the putamen.” The caudate nucleus is responsible for voluntary movements, memory, learning and emotional processing while the putamen is responsible for motor control, articulating speech as well as cognitive functions. The cells produced from the treatment are meant to disable the instructions the microRNA is sending to the messenger RNA to stop creating mutant huntingtin. Professor Patrizi comments at the University College London Huntington’s Disease Centre, “We never in our wildest dreams would have expected a 75% slowing of clinical progression” (BBC). 

This treatment brings promise for people that have Huntington’s disease running in their families, such as Jake May-Davis. His father and grandmother both experienced symptoms in their early years which ultimately led to the diagnosis of the disease and early deaths. Jack took part in the Huntington’s treatment research being conducted at University College London under Professor Ed Wild and Sarah Tabrizi, where he received positive news regarding his diagnosis. After receiving the treatment, his future “seems a little bit brighter, it does allow me to think my life could be that much longer” (BBC). However, many people have experienced side effects from this new treatment, such as inflammation from the test virus, headaches, and confusion. Another concern about the new treatment is the potentially high costs and reduced availability for the public. Professor Wild has claimed that “It will be expensive for sure” (BBC). However, this isn’t a reason to halt the progress and success to come from these tests. A junior, Julia Coppo, is currently enrolled in the Lumiere Research Scholars Program that has a large focus on STEM and the medical field. Coppo assures, “almost all groundbreaking medical treatments start out expensive and come with their fair share of challenges. I don’t think there’s ever been a trail that went perfectly the first try. It doesn’t mean we stop trying, that’s the whole point of medical innovation – to create something that can help people and then make it better, safer, and more accessible.”

Now that a treatment exists to slow down Huntington’s Disease, it’s hopeful that in years to come with more studies and testing, a permanent cure could be found. If a cure is found thousands of individuals worldwide will survive and be able to combat such a challenging illness.