New research at The University of Melbourne is looking into the role copper plays in multiple sclerosis (MS) with a potential treatment on the horizon following similar research on motor neuron disease (MND).
Dr Peter Crouch and Dr James Hilton at The University of Melbourne say their research on motor neuron disease could uncover a treatment for multiple sclerosis by restoring bodily functions affected by copper changes.
Copper is needed in every cell of our bodies for survival and research has found diseases such as multiple sclerosis and motor neuron disease cause changes which affect important copper-dependent bodily functions.
Dr Crouch says the copper-dependent processes are disrupted in the brain and spinal cord, but a potential drug could penetrate and restore function.
“What we are really hoping is that the things that we’ve identified in motor neuron disease are going to be readily translatable to multiple sclerosis,” he says.
The team at The University of Melbourne is hoping the research will be well received by those living with multiple sclerosis.
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