Scientists make a scientific breakthrough with the Ice Bucket Challenge flash mob

In total, more than 17 million video clips were uploaded to Facebook, with people pouring icy water over it. Photo: depositphotos

The Ice Bucket Challenge charity flash mob, whose participants poured cold water and posted videos on the social network, helped to finance an important scientific discovery.

As reported by the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association, scientists have identified a new gene, NEK1, that is involved in the occurrence of a hereditary form of this disease, also known as Lou Hering's disease.

The Ice Bucket Challenge flash mob, which went viral in 2014, helped raise $115 million despite criticism. Opponents of the action argued that, given its massive scale, the connection between the cold water dousing itself and its charitable purpose was lost.

In total, the money collected went to six scientific studies. A group of scientists calling themselves Project MinE conducted the largest study in history of hereditary amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and published its results in the journal Nature Genetics.

More than 80 researchers in 11 countries have been searching for genes associated with the risk of this disease.

Identifying the NEK1 gene means that scientists can now develop gene therapy to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Although the hereditary form accounts for only 10% of all cases of this disease, scientists believe that genetics plays a role in a much larger percentage of cases.

Ice Bucket Challenge flash mob members challenged three other people, most of whom chose from their friends or relatives. Those, in turn, had to repeat the procedure or make a donation in favor of the disease research fund within 24 hours.

In total, more than 17 million video clips were uploaded to Facebook, with people pouring icy water over it. Many celebrities took part in the flash mob, including the founder of the social network Mark Zuckerberg.

In the US, about 30 thousands of people suffer from “Lou Gering's disease”. For comparison, Alzheimer's disease was diagnosed in more than 5 million people. Under such conditions, as the initiators of the flash mob said, it is simply unprofitable for pharmaceutical companies to engage in research on the disease.

In most cases, sclerosis is constantly progressing, and muscle weakness gradually covers all parts of the body.

Probably the most famous patient with amyotrophic sclerosis is a British physicist. Stephen Hawking.

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