MND Association Welcomes Research that Sheds Light on Causes

Media release
21 June 2012

The Motor Neurone Disease Association welcomes research that may shed light on causes of MND

On Motor Neurone Disease Global Awareness Day, the Motor Neurone Disease Association of New Zealand has welcomed two exciting research projects in New Zealand that could shed light on the causes of motor neurone disease (MND).

Brain researchers at the Centre for Brain Research at The University of Auckland are looking at why and how the brain and spinal cord cells die in MND; and, in a separate study, Massey University is looking into possible occupational and environmental risk factors that may cause the disease.

With no known cure and around 300 people in New Zealand currently living with MND, Acting National Manager of the Motor Neurone Disease Association, Grant Diggle says finding out the causes is critical in the fight against MND.

“About 100 people in New Zealand die from MND and another 100 are diagnosed each year. Research like this can help us to make real progress in understanding the causes of MND and to finding effective treatments,” says Mr Diggle.

MND New Zealand patron and Centre for Brain Research Director, Professor Richard Faull says researchers at The University of Auckland-based centre, led by Professor Dragunow, are using new techniques in their research.

“While our research is still in the early stages, what is very exciting is that we have developed specialised techniques for studying this precious human tissue.

“In particular, we have developed cell culturing techniques which enable us to directly study what influences the death of cells in MND, as well as other brain disorders,” says Professor Faull.

Using human brain cell culture techniques, the centre has been able to directly study the cells that cause brain inflammation to try to understand how they contribute to cell death in the human brain and spinal cord.

“We are also testing new treatments on these human brain cells to identify potential new drugs that may slow brain cell death in MND and other brain disorders,” Professor Faull says.

In a separate study, funding by the Health Research Council is enabling Massey University researchers to undertake New Zealand’s first comprehensive survey into links between occupational and environmental backgrounds of those with MND.

"It is not known what causes MND, but there are factors such as higher incidence in men - around twice that of women - and there have been questions raised about whether chemical and contaminant exposure will increase the risk of someone developing the disease. This important study should help to shed light in this area," Mr Diggle says.

While the disease currently has no cure, Mr Diggle says many people with MND lead inspirational and fulfilling lives.

"People living with MND around the country show great strength, courage and determination in fighting this most challenging disease. I am inspired by the things they achieve and we want to thank them, their family and carers for supporting and encouraging them to lead active lives everyday."

The Motor Neurone Disease Association is urging people to show their support for people with MND by making a donation via its website: http://mnda.org.nz/.

Further information on motor neurone disease and research projects
MND facts
• MND is a rapidly progressive disease that attacks the motor neurones. Degeneration of the motor neurones leads to weakness and wasting of muscles, causing increasing loss of mobility in the limbs, and difficulties with speech, swallowing and breathing.
• The cause of MND is unknown and there is no known cure.
• In New Zealand, there are about 300 people who are currently living with MND and there are between 80 to 100 new cases each year.
• Between 80 to 100 people with motor neurone disease in New Zealand die each year.
• Men are affected more often than women.
• MND can affect adults at any age but most people diagnosed with MND are over the age of 40, with the highest incidence occurring between the ages of 50 and 70.
• In 90-95% of cases there is no known family history.
• In 5-10% of cases the disease is known to be inherited.
• Global awareness day for MND is on Thursday 21 June. Every year since 1997, the International Alliance has celebrated 21 June as the global day of recognition of ALS/MND - a disease that affects people in every country of the globe. 21 June is a solstice - a turning point - and each year the MND community undertake a range of activities to express their hope that this day will be another turning point in the search for cause, treatment and cure of this awful disease.
• To support people with MND in New Zealand, you can donate online: https://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/fundraise/makedonation_direct.aspx?c=175
• A donation to the Motor Neurone Disease Association of New Zealand supports the small national office (two part time staff) and funding for seven field workers (five FTE) around New Zealand supporting people and their families with MND. For this, the association receives some Ministry of Health funding but is largely reliant on grants and donations.
• The blue cornflower is the international flower of hope for motor neurone disease. The cornflower symbolises courage. It can withstand both frost and drought and its strong blue colour never fades. Like the cornflower, people with MND show tremendous courage and strength of character to cope with this most challenging disease.
Research background
• Notes from Professor Richard Faull, Director, Centre for Brain Research at The University of Auckland
Motor neurone disease is unfortunately a tragic neurological disorder for which we have no effective treatments now. Research into the causes of why and how the brain and spinal cord cells die in MND is absolutely critical if we are going to be able to develop effective treatments for patients with this disorder. At the Centre for Brain Research at the University of Auckland we are so fortunate to receive donations of brain and spinal cord tissue to support our growing research into a range of brain disorders including MND. While our research is still in the early stages, what is very exciting is that we have developed specialised techniques for studying this precious human tissue. In particular, we have developed cell culturing techniques which enable us to directly study what influences the death of cells in MND, as well as other brain disorders.

MND, as well as other neurodegenerative and traumatic disorders, is worsened by inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. Using these human brain cell culture techniques, in work directed by Professor Mike Dragunow, we have been able to directly study the cells that cause brain inflammation to try to understand how they contribute to cell death in the human brain and spinal cord. We are also directly testing new treatments on these human brain cells to identify potential new drugs that may slow brain cell death in MND and other brain disorders.

We are one of the few research laboratories in the world with the expertise to grow and test human brain cells in this way. We are just beginning this exciting and challenging journey and it is our eternal hope to develop new therapies to help people with MND and other neurodegenerative disorders.

• Notes from Dr David McLean, Massey MND Research Project
The cause of MND is largely unknown, with the only known risk factors being some specific genetic polymorphisms and increasing age. However, only 5-10% of cases are familial, and the vast majority of cases are of the “sporadic” or randomly occurring form. A role for environmental or occupational exposures is suggested by the lack of evidence for a genetic component in most cases, differences in incidence by geographical region, the increases in incidence observed in some countries including New Zealand over a relatively short period of time, the associations that have been observed in a number of epidemiological studies, and by the higher proportion of males affected (possibly due to their greater historical exposure to putative occupational risk factors).

A number of associations have been observed in epidemiological studies between MND and occupational exposures, including: agricultural chemicals, electromagnetic fields (EMFs), welding, electrical occupations or electric shock, various metals and organic solvents, although the evidence to date is inconsistent. In New Zealand there has also been controversy about the potential role of methyl bromide fumigants in the development of MND, in a cluster of Nelson port workers in particular. While an official investigation found no evidence that this cluster was due to anything other than chance, concern remains about a possible connection.

We are conducting a New Zealand wide population based case-control study to investigate associations between occupations, and specific exposures, and MND. We will use the Motor Neurone Disease Association’s register of cases to contact all existing cases, as well as using notifications of new cases from neurologists. It is estimated that this will provide over 500 cases to interview over a two and a half year period, and at the same time we will also recruit about 1000 people without the disease to act as controls. Both cases and controls will be interviewed using the same questionnaire. Our main focus will be on taking a detailed work history to investigate associations with specific occupations, and then applying job-exposure-matrices which provide information on exposure to specific agents within different occupations, in order to compare the exposures experienced by both cases and controls. We will also be gathering data on residential history and a range of potential lifestyle risk factors to assess other associations with MND.

www.mnda.org.nz

ENDS

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