Yaks may hold the key to treating MS patients: study
New York Post • • health
Key Points:
- Scientists have identified a genetic mutation called Restat, found in yaks and other high-altitude animals, that protects their brains from low-oxygen conditions without damaging the myelin sheath, a protective coating around nerve fibers.
- Researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University engineered mice with the Restat mutation and found these mice had healthier myelin, better memory and behavior, and faster repair of nerve damage under low-oxygen conditions.
- The Restat gene boosts production of ATDR, a vitamin A-related molecule that aids the creation and maturation of myelin-producing cells, and administering ATDR improved symptoms in mice with MS-like conditions.
- This yak-inspired approach differs from current MS treatments by focusing on repairing nerve damage rather than just calming the immune system, potentially offering a new therapeutic avenue for MS and other nerve-related disorders.
- If proven safe for humans, this treatment could also benefit conditions involving nerve damage such as cerebral palsy and stroke, highlighting the medical potential of evolutionary genetic adaptations.
