Nath's team is currently developing an animal model
of Nodding syndrome to further study the disease and test potential therapies.
However, those antibodies also bind to leiomodin - 1, so the immune system - incorrectly - will attack brain cells that contain that protein, which can result in symptoms
of Nodding syndrome.
The worm is spread by black flies in specific geographic areas, where clusters
of Nodding syndrome have been observed.
Not exact matches
Researchers at the National Institutes
of Health have uncovered new clues to the link between
Nodding syndrome, a devastating form
of pediatric epilepsy found in specific areas
of east Africa, and a parasitic worm that can cause river blindness.
The results
of this study suggest that
Nodding syndrome may be an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system incorrectly attacks the body's own proteins.
«
Nodding syndrome caused by response to parasitic protein, international study suggests: Study also identifies potential new mechanism for some forms
of epilepsy.»
For example, one - third
of controls also had leiomodin - 1 antibodies, but it is unclear whether these individuals may eventually develop
Nodding syndrome.
Nodding syndrome is a form
of epilepsy that occurs in children between the ages
of 5 and 16 who live in distinct regions
of Tanzania, Uganda and the Republic
of South Sudan.
One clue is that sufferers
of a disease called river blindness are much more likely to have
nodding syndrome as well.
The mysterious and deadly
Nodding Syndrome has affected thousands
of children in Northern Uganda, leaving them hovering in a zombie - like state between life and death.
An exploration
of caregiver burden for children with
nodding syndrome (lucluc) in Northern Uganda