As a New Year approach people tend to reflect over the year that has been. And we in the European Huntington Association are no different.
This year is characterized by many things. If we look outside our own little community, the world “ may seem an unfriendly and sinister place” to quote Lemony Snicket. However “what might seem to be a series of unfortunate events may in fact be the first steps of a journey”.
This year the Huntington community has taken many steps on an important journey – maybe the most important one: the path to a cure.
This December it was announced that the first Huntingtin Lowering Trial carried out in humans showed groundbreaking results. The trial showed to lower the expression of mutant huntingtin considerably. “This gives us reason to believe that the root cause of HD can be targeted and influenced,” the President of EHA Astri Arnesen then stated.
Even though it can be scary to hope, sometimes hope is the only thing we have. In case of finding a treatment in HD, hope is – in fact – not the only thing we have. We also have scientists, participants, researchers and volunteers. They walk for us, together with us, to reach our final destination: a treatment.
We thank all of you: those of you who work for a treatment, those of you that volunteer, those of you who work day and night for the cause of HD and those of you who tear down walls and break down stigmas. It would not be possible without you.
We look forward to 2018.
Happy New Year!