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UK Wedding News

04/03/2014

Breakthrough Could Help Floppy Baby Syndrome

A new study has claimed that a chemical found in plants could help babies who suffer from a rare muscle disease.

The research, which has been conducted by Edinburgh University, hope that the chemical – quercetin – could aid in the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Quercetin is found in some plants, fruits and vegetables and it said to target the build-up of a certain molecule inside cells, known as beta-cetenin, which is responsible for some of the symptoms of SMA.

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In children, the disease, often referred to as "floppy baby syndrome", leaves them with little or no control over their movement. It is thought around one in 6,000 babies are affected by the condition, and of those with the most severe form of the illness, about half will die by the age of two.

Currently, there is no cure for the disease, but experts at Edinburgh University believe that a breakthrough in their studies could help prevent damage to the nerves associated with spinal muscular atrophy.

Professor Tom Gillingwater, from Edinburgh University, is quoted as saying: "This is an important step that could one day improve quality of life for the babies affected by this condition and their families.

"There is currently no cure for this kind of neuromuscular disorder so new treatments that can tackle the progression of disease are urgently needed."

(JP)

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"A new study has claimed that a chemical found in plants could help babies who suffer from a rare muscle disease."