Recently at the Babraham Institute, scientists have discovered a survival factor that plays a key role in keeping our nerve cells alive and protects us from degenarative disease such as multiple sclerosis. This survival factor is called Nmnat2, and it has been discovered that without this protein nerve cells begin to degenerate. Nmnat2 is a metabolic enzyme that is situated in the golgi of nerve cells. Neurodegenrative diseases are caused by a loss of functioning nerve cells, usually caused by the degeneration of axons. Axons are the long and thin projections, that can be up to a meter long, that carry messages from nerve cells to other target cells. Many neurodegenerative diseases are caused by the deterioration of these axons. These axons also deteriorate as people age.
These discoveries open up whole new world of possibility in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders as scientists now know what protein, or lack thereof, cuases the deterioration of these axons. Scientists now believe they can combat neurodegenerative disorders by targeting this protein or other steps in the nerve pathway. There is also some potential for the possibilty of slowing the natural degeneration of nerve cells with old age.
While this discovery opens up many doors for people with neurodegenerative diseases, some of the worst and most painful known to man, it also could give humans the power to extend life to unthinkable ages. Nowadays most things in ones body can be replaced if it breaks down, from a knee to a heart. However, one of the most effective limiting agents on human life is the degeneration of nerve cells, something that has baffled scientists for many years. With this recent discovery though, science could be reaching another plateau of extending human life, one that could have incredibly controversial views.
-Graham and Hayes
Public Library of Science. "Scientists Find Survival Factor for Keeping Nerve Cells Healthy." ScienceDaily 31 January 2010. 31 January 2010
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