Scientists have lifted the veil on one of the mechanisms of Charcot’s disease. Their study, like many works in progress, was funded through the Ice Bucket Challenge.
One after the other, they courageously spilled a bucket of ice water on their heads, before posting their video on social networks and making a donation to fight Charcot’s disease.
In one year, more than 17 million people took up the Ice Bucket Challenge, from Lady Gaga to Bill Gates to George W. Bush. In April, the American association ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) quantified the donations collected thanks to this viral campaign to the tune of $ 220 million (195 million euros).
“Glued” proteins
This sum made it possible to finance a major discovery, according to researchers at Johns-Hopkins University, who express themselves in the columns of the Washington post. These scientists have indeed lifted the veil on one of the mechanisms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Charcot’s disease.
This incurable neurodegenerative disease is characterized by an attack on motor neurons, the nerve cells that control muscle contraction.
About ten years ago, scientists observed in patients with the disease clumps of TDP-43 proteins, responsible for decoding DNA, outside the nucleus of nerve cells. However, they were never able to determine whether this cluster was the cause or the consequence of the disease.
Millions of buckets of ice water later, this protein is finally revealing its secrets. In their works, published in the journal Science, the researchers found that within these clumps, proteins were “stuck” together, preventing them from properly decoding DNA and causing cells to die within days.
This work is very encouraging, even if it was carried out on rodent models. The 220 million euros played a key role in their achievement. “We could never have completed these studies so quickly,” the authors explain.
About sixty funded projects
According to a count made last July by the ALS association, around sixty research projects were thus funded thanks to the challenge. In addition to research, donations directly benefit patients. No less than 23 million dollars have been paid to patients – to help them buy the necessary equipment (canes, chairs, etc.) – and to the teams of caregivers who take care of them. In the same idea, 10 million dollars are intended to train doctors in the disease and to educate the general public.
In France, the mobilization was less, but still appreciable. The Association for Research on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ARSLA) thus raised 150,000 euros thanks to the Ice Bucket Challenge.
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