Japanese researchers have found to suffer from cerebellar atrophy (SCA) import cerebellum of mice capable of encoding a protein repair genes, can prolong life and improve their athletic ability. This discovery for the treatment of cerebellar atrophy hope.

Cerebellar atrophy etiology is unclear, but most patients have a familial tendency. Since the physiological function of the cerebellum is to maintain the body balance and coordination of voluntary movement, patients often appear unsteady gait, running difficulties and other symptoms may also occur with advanced heart failure.

Tokyo Medical and Dental University, who studies military Gangze type 1 cerebellar atrophy, the disease is known to be a patient of the sixth chromosome abnormalities, leading to nerve cells can repair damaged DNA caused HMGB1 protein reduction .

The team to sick mice can be introduced into the surface of the cerebellum HMGB1 protein-coding genes. It was found that the previous life of only 250 days in mice, after introducing the gene life has been extended, and motor function has also been improved.

The researchers said that if the direct injection of HMGB1 protein, activates inflammatory cells, resulting in adverse effects. While gene therapy, only this protein nerve cells increase, so the future is expected to develop a new method for the treatment of cerebellar atrophy.