Tyler's Hope for a Dystonia Cure
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New Imaging Technique Could Aid in Testing of New Drugs for Dystonia

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A new study led by University of Florida neuroscientists furthers the scientific understanding about the brain regions involved with causing dystonia, a poorly understood, debilitating neurological disorder that causes involuntary muscle contractions, twisting movements and other symptoms. The new findings may help scientists test new drugs that could help abate the symptoms of the disease.
The study, published in the journal Neurobiology of Disease, shows that removing a key protein linked to dystonia in a mouse model results in widespread increases in connectivity strength across the brain network. The protein is called torsinA and is associated with DYT1 dystonia, which is a genetic form of dystonia.

Dystonia can range in levels of impairment, with onset in childhood or adulthood. It affects about 300,000 Americans.
In collaboration with researchers at the University of Michigan, UF researchers sought to understand what happens in brain networks when torsinA is deleted, amid dystonic symptoms, as a critical step in developing imaging methods to track the disease in humans. They conducted the scans using the high-field imaging magnet at UF’s National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. 
The study was novel in its use of a live symptomatic dystonia animal model.
“Future studies can look at this as a foundation and platform for testing dystonia therapeutics going forward, with technology and readouts that have a direct translation to humans,” said senior author David Vaillancourt, Ph.D., a professor of applied physiology and kinesiology in UF’s College of Health and Human Performance and a member of the Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute of the University of Florida.

“This study is a critical step in the evolution of therapies for dystonia,” said Michael S. Okun, M.D., professor and chair of neurology at the University of Florida. “Combining an animal model with a novel imaging technique will speed up our ability to test new medications and therapies.”
The study was funded by Tyler’s Hope for a Dystonia Cure, the National Institutes of Health and the McKnight Brain Institute.

Location:
13301 US Hwy 441
Alachua, FL 32615
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(Located inside The InterMed Group's Corporate Office)

Mission Statement

Tyler's Hope Foundation was established to advance research for a cure, discover effective treatments and to promote awareness and education of DYT1 Dystonia. 

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​501c3    20-3733312



Contact Us

  • Tyler's Story
    • Progressional Diary
  • About Us
    • Centers of Excellence >
      • University of Florida's Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases
      • Duke Health
    • About Dystonia
    • Meet the Team
    • The Research
    • Our Leadership
    • Media Coverage
  • Events
    • Center of Excellence at Duke Health Ribbon Cutting
    • Cajun Crawfish Boil
    • Think Tank
    • The Hope Weekend
    • Season of Hope 5K/15K
    • Webinars
  • Support Us
    • Shop
    • The Hope Brew Coffee
    • Planned Giving
    • Send checks
    • Amazon Smile
    • Giving Tuesday
  • Get Involved
    • Donate Now
    • Add a Signature
    • Volunteer Registration
    • Tyler's Hope Tuesdays
    • Social Media >
      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • Instagram
  • Latest News
  • DIPR - Dystonia International Patient Registry
  • Blog