Can Experience REALLY affect gene expression - Day 4 - 6.21.10

Since the time I first found out about my father having Huntington's disease (HD), we have been on a course of finding more information, looking deep to find answers to what he will progress through, and trying to seek to find answers about what behavioral changes he will go through. Huntington's disease is a genetic disease. Because it is autosomal dominant,if you have the mutated allele, you will have the disease. Research about what exactly happens inside the brain that causes the symptoms is continually taking place. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2010) states, "At this time, there is no way to stop or reverse the course of HD. Now that the HD gene has been located, investigators are continuing to study the HD gene with an eye toward understanding how it causes disease in the human body."

The research of Dr. Suomi is encouraging. He stated during his presentation (2010) that "experience affects gene expression" in the rhesus monkeys. Because my research is dealing with the impact of Huntington's disease on families, it is interesting to hear this comment. Could this really be true? Is there really the hope that at some point families who have had to experience this disease, all due to genetics, would have hope through providing certain experiences to others that may dramatically improve their quality of life?

After the presentation I was able to ask Dr. Suomi about the HD question and if he knew if his research would have an impact on genetic disease such as this. He pointed me to the studies in Los Angeles that have had some success in turning around behaviors associated with HD by using some drugs that have impacts on how the brain functions. The drug therapy is of high promise, but could this be accomplished behaviorally as well? Just amazing!

Dr. Suomi reminded me of our obligations as researchers to really continue to preform research and to continue adding to the knowledge of body that exists on any subject. Being part of the doctoral program and knowing that my research will also add to the existing body of knowledge is exciting. While some may have argued that his research with monkeys isn't quite right, without the use of animals to test some of our models, I don't know how we would continue to move forward. At one time I would have been very against research on animals and the impacts it has on them. However, it is such research that is now providing hope that one day no others will have to go through the consequences of a disease like my father has had to. 

That is true inspiration!

Suomi, S.  (2010, June). Leadership, Experience-based Brain & Biological Development. Lecture delivered at Summer Institute at Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, WI.

NINDS Huntington's disease information page. National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke. Retrieved June 30, 2010 from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/huntington/huntington.htm