THE ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE WORKED
Viral media trend haters have a big and tough pill to swallow; the 2014’s Ice Bucket Challenge actually succeeded.
The ALS Association announced on Monday that the social media campaign raised enough money to make a major medical breakthrough.The campaign raised approximately $115 million in just two months, two-thirds of which went to research and development.
One million dollars helped fund Project MinE, which discovered a gene responsible for the disease.That gene is called NEK1, which ranks among the most common genes that contribute to the disease. NEK1 plays a large role in the functioning of neurons — including maintaining the cytoskeleton (what gives the neuron its shape and promotes transport) and the mitochondrion (which supplies energy to neurons).
This major discover with allow scientists to go down another avenue for the extensive treatment of ALS, of which causes nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to deteriorate.
They deteriorate to the point that within five years the patient will lose the ability to breath and eventually pass away.
MinE researchers say that without the Ice Bucket Challenge funding, they wouldn’t have been able to conduct their study on as large a sample of ALS patients, which researchers say was critical in discovering NEK1.
This extensive research and major breakthrough's are a huge step in the treatment of ALS!
Pfftt who said dumping water over our heads wouldn't word ;)
- Sam Lucas
" The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart." - Helen Keller