The Ludlam family of Michigan, who lost a loved one to Huntington’s disease, is now leading the charge to find a cure. And joining them on the #Path2Cures are some unexpected allies: their flock of sheep.
Huntington’s disease damages brain cells, ultimately ceasing mental and physical abilities. But a recent article caught the family’s attention. According to According to WOOD TV in Grand Rapids, “[t]he report described a genetic disorder in some sheep which cause the animals to overproduce the GM1 ganglioside, which is a substance that helps protect brain cells. It’s also a substance lacking in people with Huntington’s disease."
As luck would have it, the Ludlam Family are sheep farmers. They started exploring how they could get involved in research, and are now in the midst of their own study. The results are still two to three years away, and the Ludlam Family stressed that funding would be a critical issue.
Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) stopped by the Ludlam’s farm last week to learn more about their research and to spotlight H.R. 6, the 21st Century Cures Act, which would boost funding for the NIH, as well as accelerate the discovery, development and delivery of treatments.
Allegan County sheep could hold key to treating Huntington’s disease
