Isabelle Weall, the former British National Spokesperson for the British government, has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease – a progressive muscle-wasting condition that affects motor neurons. It results from the accumulation of body toxins such as lead, which eventually accumulates within the muscle tissues. The disease ultimately kills off those muscles, resulting in severe weakness, atrophy (weakness and sponginess) and asymmetry. This news will surely bring a bout of widespread concern regarding the increasing ratio of people over the age of 65, coupled with the growing number of people with the condition of “trampoline syndrome” – an umbrella term that includes conditions such as “aces”.
Weall has not been given specific details about the precise cause of Lou Gehrig’s disease, but according to a press release, her mother, Bertrand, is suspected of playing a major role in her demise. The Press Association quotes Weall as saying that she now fully believes in the possibility of gene therapy as a treatment for this disorder. “I am really pleased to hear that my mum was not the cause of my disorder – it was a great relief,” she said. She is due to undergo further testing to determine whether gene therapy holds the promise of treating her disease. If successful, it could possibly be used to treat other disorders, including Alzheimer’s-Korsakoff syndrome, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease, according to the press release.
Height and gene therapy seem to have a connection through the ages. Weall’s case is therefore further evidence of the need to address the issue of “nutrient deficiencies” in height development in humans, especially as new evidence continues to emerge regarding the relationship between height and intelligence. It would make sense then, if a former British National Spokesperson for the government is currently undergoing treatments for a rare genetic disease that can affect her ability to reach her full potential.