London researchers have uncovered a possible cause of what's been called Viking Disease. Also known and Dupuytren's Contracture, the disease causes tissue in the palm of the hand to contract, forcing the fingers to bend. In several cases, people can no longer move their fingers.

The disease mainly hits people of northern European descent--particularly Norweigian, Scottish and Irish.

Painful surgery, following months of physiotherapy, is the main remedy for the condition that has had no known cure. (I wonder if the scientists ever heard of NA in addition to surgery. My insert.)

"We see a lot of patients with this disease." said Dr. Bing Siang Gan, a surgeon and scientist at Lawson Health Institute who led London research team.

The teram discovered a molecule that may be responsible for starting the disease.

"We ultimately hope that if we know the mechanism of this disease and if we can interfere with it, we can prevent the scarring and contracture from occurring." Gan said.

In studying the disease , the London scientists noted the thickening tissue in the hand resembled scar tissue.

"It looked like the same kind of process going on in Dupuytren's as happens ins wound healing," Gan said.

They then studied the moledular structure of cells with Dupuytren's disease and scar tissue and found the same triggering molecule at work.

"From that point on we started unraveling the ball of yarn," Gasn said.

The discovery by the London researchers has been recognized by the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Authritis, which awarded the team its annual Quality of Life Award.

The next step is to find a way of stopping the triggering molecule.

"Ultimately, we may be able to devise some method of permanently knocking out or decreasing the signaling molecule, "Gan said.

That might be with a drug or a genetic approach, he said.

Hopefully it will be as simple as taking a pill.

Source: The London Free Press News.