They're diseases that often strike in the prime of life, causing uncontrolled movement and even cognitive decline, but Robarts research is showing great promise in helping to develop drugs to treat Huntington's disease and Parkinson's.
Led by Dr. Stephen Ferguson, the research could be life-changing for people with movement disorders like Huntington's and Parkinson's.
"It's not going to be a cure for the disease, but it might slow the progression and maybe improve some of the neurological deficits these people are suffering from."
The target of the research is a brain receptor known as mGluR5, or Metabotropic Clutamate Receptor 5.
"It's a very important receptor in regulating movement. It plays a role in memory and learning. So it modulates neurotransmission in the brain," Ferguson says.
Researchers wanted to see if mice genetically engineered to have the neurological characeristics of Huntington's, who were deprived of mGluR5, showed improved movement.
The results were impressive, Ferguson says "What we found in the Huntington mice was that they actually became better coordinated...Not only was there some improvement in their behaviour, but the pathological hallmarks of the disease were lost in mice that were aged out to two years of age."
Future research will look at possible the effects of manipulating levels of mGluR5.
"These receptors are involved in memory and learning, so there may be some deficit in the ability to learn new things. The only way to find that out is to do the appropriate trials."
The good news is that treatments could be available sooner rather than later. That's because phase three clinical trials are underway on the substance as it relates to fragile X syndrome - an autism-like disorder.
Ferguson adds "There may be drugs coming on the market that physicians may be able to use in Huntington's patients to slow the progression of the disease if what we're finding is actually true."
