• Submitted by: admin
• Health and Medicine
• 06 / 17 / 2007

Early outcomes of the assessment of the clinical tests with new medications on people suffering from spino-cerebellar Ataxia type 2 (SCA2, in Spanish) prove the research effective, having much improved zinc levels in the serum of the patients studied.

The project is being carried out at the Holguin Clinic for the Research and Rehabilitation of Hereditary Ataxia (CIRAH, in Spanish) with the colaboration of other scientific centers from Havana. This study is considered to be a turning point in the treatment of this inherited degenerative disease.

The trial consists of two phases. The patients are administered zinc and take neurorehabilitation sessions for six months, based on the fact that people suffering from this disease experience a considerable decrease in the levels of zinc, iron and copper in patient's serum and spinal fluid, and thus the central nervous system.

Assessing the results of the three months of the ongoing research,. Luis Velazquez Perez, MSc. stated that patients'zinc absorption levels were positive therefore providing for the needs of their systems. The former was stated during the inaugural Integrating Workshop for the Study of Ataxias recently held in Holguin.

"In general, cognitive functions improved, that is those related to the upper cortical region. That includes attention, concentration, and memory. There are also achievements as for posture, balance, walking; and most important of all, patients' immune systems are better fit to fight against diseases typical of the latter stage of the disease, "Velazquez highlighted.

In Cuba, 758 persons suffer from the disease, 440 of those are in the Holguin province. There are also 6,000 people at risk of developing it, hence the programs created to find a therapeutic choice, research and special treatment for the patients.

Source: Ahora