Possible new treatments for PMR and GCA?

[Canuk]

Thanks for the info on your blog. I’ve just rejoined as CANUKUS.

I’ve had GCA and PMR for about 11 years now. All I’m taking that’s directly related to those maladies is Pred , down to 2.5 mg- occasionally 5mg daily and Paracetamol 1/2 gram when I get an occasional flare. GCA seriously affected my right eye- which remains with better , albeit poor sight- even after cataract surgery. The core problem is damage to the optic nerve which seems- or seemed- impossible to remedy. Perhaps there is some hope and grounds for mild optimism- AI- artificial Intelligence may be able to locate some existing or novel mechanism or medicine that can effect repair. Let’s see( one hopes) .

In that context, if you haven’t seen it look at the following news (partial only) concerning “optogenetics” from a day or so ago:

Sent: 25 April 2024 07:47

Subject: Washington Post article Today FYI: Optogenetics: Restoring eyesight?

FYI

I can’t open this- perhaps others can) but is there new hope for restoring failing eye sight?

Article titled: Restoring sight is possible now with optogenetics

By Andrew Zaleski

Never heard of optogenetics but there is some info via search engines now :

eg: Optogenetic techniques have been developed to allow control over the activity of selected cells within a highly heterogeneous tissue, using a combination of genetic engineering and light. Optogenetics employs natural and engineered photoreceptors, mostly of microbial origin, to be genetically introduced into the cells of interest…..

In a broader sense, the field of optogenetics also includes methods to record cellular activity with genetically encoded indicators. In 2010, optogenetics was chosen as the “Method of the Year” across all fields of science and engineering by the interdisciplinary research journal Nature Methods. Optogenetics has been used for studying not only the brain but also cardiac tissue, stem cells, and the development of organisms……

Regards CANUKUS

(Spain)

[Koalajane]

confused, how does this help PMR please?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Koalajane]

Not sure it does…and probably not GCA either. The ophthalmic artery affected by GCA cells starves the optic nerve of blood which results in the loss of sight… once that happens very unlikely to recover.. and there is only a few days when that is achievable.