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Excess glutamate levels lead to MS complications
30 Apr 2009
High levels of glutamate could lead to complications in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, researchers have discovered.
Scientists at the University of California, US, found that glutamate, which is a naturally-occurring by-product of metabolism, is linked to "greater disease burden" in patients with MS - a discovery that could help doctors better predict the course of the condition.
It was revealed that excess levels of glutamate "triggers a cascade of negative reactions in the brain", which is also linked to complications in other neurological conditions such as Parkinson's, stroke and Alzheimer's disease.
Study author Daniel Pelletier, associate professor of neurology and a member of the Multiple Sclerosis Research Group at the university, said that the study is the first to measure glutamate toxicity in the brain "in real time".
"[This] gives us a marker for monitoring disease progression as well as our treatment of the disease," he explained.
"For instance, we already have anti-glutamate drugs, so now we can assess, with imaging, the impact of the therapy and the progression of the disease."
Approximately 2.5 million people across the world have MS, which is the most common progressive and disabling condition in young adults.
Click here to visit the Multiple Sclerosis Quick Guide
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