Study Links Rheumatoid Arthritis and Huntington’s Disease
Researchers could create new treatments based on these findings
Dr. Firestein stated that he and his fellow colleagues were able to gain a better understanding of RA and their findings may prove beneficial to individuals with other immune-mediated diseases if new therapeutic approaches in disease management are realized. Currently, 10-20% of patients with RA do not respond to any available medications and for patients with Huntington’s disease, medications may offer symptom relief but they do not prevent physical and mental deterioration associated with the disorder. “This methodology can also be used to find connections between other diseases, not just rheumatoid arthritis. As genes involved are discovered, researchers can potentially identify new treatment options and even repurpose existing drugs,” said Dr. Firestein. The research team’s findings were published in the journal Nature Communications.