A study published in the journal Science on 7 September 2018 gives new insights into how exercise can improve memory and possibly help prevent or treat Alzheimer’s disease. The corollary is that pharmaceutical treatments might be designed to mimic this effect.

The European Medicines Agency has delivered a positive opinion recommending use of a new gene therapy, Luxturna (voretigene neparvovec), to treat adults and children suffering from an inherited retinal dystrophy caused by mutations in the RPE65 gene.

The disease causes vision loss that usually leads to blindness. There is currently no treatment for the disorder. Support to patients is limited to measures allowing disease management such as wearing a medical identification bracelet.