One of the most exciting developments in recent years in medicine for seniors has got to be gene therapy. The prospect of being able to repair defects at the genetic level can give hope to sufferers of extremely debilitating diseases, such as muscular dystrophy for example, and may even make longer life possible.

Medicine Net published a report recently on progress being made in experimenting with gene therapy in monkeys.

Gene Therapy Brings New Muscle to Monkeys – MedicineNet – Health and Medical Information Produced by Doctors

Researchers are reporting that injections of genes into the leg muscles of monkeys helped the animals gain muscle size and strength without side effects.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association, which funded the research, said the gene-therapy findings, though preliminary, might someday lead to better treatment for people who suffer from muscle loss.

As gene therapy improves in coming years, all kinds of treatment possibilities will open up for afflictions such as arthritis, heart disease, birth defects, and probably even cancer. Though one should guard against unrealistic optimism and recognize the limits of any medical treatment, the future of medical discovery appears very bright.

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