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Huntington's disease successfully treated for first time | BBC News

BBC News

1.4M views 8 months ago

Warm-up Questions

From the title, what do you think is meant by “successfully treated for first time”?
What do you already know about Huntington's disease?
Why might a BBC News report about a new treatment be important for families?

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Huntington's disease successfully treated for first time | BBC News

Breaking news: trial results and what Huntington’s disease is (00:00 – 01:56)

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1. According to the report, how many people in the UK are affected by Huntington's disease?

Around 700
Around 700,000
Around 7,000
Around 70,000

2. Fergus Walsh corrects the inheritance detail: if you inherit the gene, what is the chance you will develop Huntington’s disease?

75%
25%
100%
50%

3. In the trial outline, what kind of treatment did the 29 patients receive?

A one-off injection into six parts of the brain
Weekly physiotherapy sessions
Daily tablets for three years
Radiation therapy to the brain

Huntington's disease successfully treated for first time | BBC News

Researcher reaction and evidence of slowing the disease (01:56 – 03:43)

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1. Professor Wild says past Huntington’s trials were mostly in a world of ____.

treatments that worked for everyone
instant cures
no scientific knowledge of the cause
incremental progress but negative results

2. What does Professor Wild say is the cause of Huntington’s disease that gave researchers a head start?

A virus caught in childhood
A vitamin deficiency
The gene (genetic cause)
Air pollution

3. What kind of evidence does he mention for the mechanism of the therapy?

Evidence from animal dreams
Biochemical evidence that neurons are protected
Survey evidence that patients feel happier
X-ray evidence that bones are stronger

Huntington's disease successfully treated for first time | BBC News

How the gene therapy works, limits, and cost (03:43 – 06:16)

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1. Where in the brain is the gene therapy injected?

The retina
The cerebellum
The spinal cord
The striatum

2. After delivery, what does the therapy do to the neuron, according to Professor Wild?

It increases the harmful protein production
It reprograms the neuron to become a factory for its own cure
It makes the neuron stop working permanently
It replaces the neuron with a mechanical implant

3. What caution do they mention about the treatment at this stage?

It requires no surgery and no risk
It is already widely available for free
It has been proven to work in all stages for everyone
It is not a licensed treatment yet

Huntington's disease successfully treated for first time | BBC News

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1. What is the main purpose of the news report?

To report trial results suggesting Huntington’s disease progression can be slowed
To warn people to avoid all viruses
To explain how to apply for NHS jobs
To announce a new diet plan for brain health

2. Why do the speakers repeatedly say they must be cautious?

Because the results are unpublished and not yet peer-reviewed/licensed
Because the treatment is already banned
Because Huntington’s disease is not genetic
Because the trial included no patients

3. Which statement best matches the potential impact described?

It could slow the disease and possibly prevent some people from being affected
It could only help with symptoms, not the disease process
It will immediately cure everyone with Huntington’s disease worldwide
It will replace the need for all NHS services

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

Huntington's disease successfully treated for first time | BBC News

What does “breakthrough” mean in medical news, and when is it appropriate to use that word?
The treatment involves brain surgery and risk. How should doctors and patients balance risk and potential benefit?
Should expensive one-off treatments (possibly millions) be paid for by public health systems like the NHS? Why or why not?
How might news like this affect families “living under the shadow” of a genetic condition?