Classified as a “chronic movement disorder,” dystonia may appear to some as a disease of the muscles.
While it’s been known that dystonia is connected to a defect in the protein torsin, scientists haven’t been able to uncover how, exactly, the torsin defect leads to the condition… until now.
To everyone with dystonia, researchers in Belgium may have found the answer you were waiting for.
Studies at VIB-KU Leuven show that torsins regulate lipid levels. Lipids form cell membranes and help store energy. This discovery helps bring scientists closer to more effective treatments.
More experiments are currently being done to explore the torsin mutation in mice, and how exactly that leads to a disruption in neural functioning. So, while plenty of questions still remain, there’s more reason to hope for better treatments.
What do you think about all this? Leave a comment below!
