Scientists discover neurodegenerative disease in monkeys

OHSU scientists have discovered a naturally occurring disease in monkeys that mimics a deadly childhood neurodegenerative disorder in people a finding that holds promise for developing new gene therapies to treat Batten disease. A multidisciplinary team of veterinarians and scientists at the Oregon National Primate Research Center made the discovery and confirmed through genetic analysis that a small population of Japanese macaque monkeys carry a mutation in the CLN7 gene that causes one form of the disease. It's the only known model for the disease among non-human primates in the world. "This has truly been a collaborative effort, bringing together the expertise of clinical veterinarians and pathologists, as well as scientists with collective expertise in primate behavior, genetics as well as brain and retinal degeneration," said Anne Lewis, D.V.M., Ph.D., head of pathology at the ONPRC and senior author on the publication.