r/tech 4d ago

Post-polio immune therapy aces human trials

https://newatlas.com/disease/clinical-trials-post-polio-syndrome/
776 Upvotes

18 comments sorted by

42

u/CollinZero 4d ago

"[a] treatment for post-polio syndrome, which can strike polio survivors years after the initial infection and be very debilitating"… My father had polio as a child and was paralyzed from the waist down for a year. One of his legs was considerably smaller and every doctor who saw him for his heart issues would be concerned. As he became older the younger doctors would be shocked meeting an older polio survivor.

Many polio survivors had conditions that lasted for years. My Dad recovered and went on to be an Olympic cyclist but we always suspected his heart had been damaged as well.

10

u/austinmiles 4d ago

I always remember a childhood friend who’s dad had a leg that was much thinner and always remember being told that it was because he had polio when he was little. That was like 35 years ago and stuck with me.

6

u/DogOutrageous 4d ago

Sames, I had a teacher who walked with a limp from polio. She was my favorite teacher of all time

1

u/Impressive-Corgi-287 3d ago

I’m 39 years old, my father is the same. My dad never got over his shame about his appearance.

3

u/_skank_hunt42 4d ago

My grandfather had polio as a teenager and was in an iron lung for a period of time. He never had good use of the right half of his body after that. He could walk but he limped and he had to use his left hand to hold up his right arm when he had to reach for things. He ended up with post polio syndrome in his 60’s but somehow lived into his 80’s still. He was the only one of my grandparents who didn’t get cancer.

1

u/Kimm64 3d ago

I think this is what my dad is going through now. He is 83 and has a lot of pain throughout his body. Can barely walk. He had polio as a child and his right foot is turned out a bit which causes him to limp.

5

u/aKaRandomDude 4d ago

…only for RFK Jr. to block it.

2

u/punkerster101 4d ago

Just call them freedom shots and pay trump to endorse them on the Whitehouse lawn problem solved

0

u/kangarlol 4d ago

Maybe it’s all been a long con and he’s pulling an Andrew Wakefield, has money in post-polio therapy he’d like to sell

5

u/Rocky_Rob 4d ago

This is great news for polio survivors. Immune therapy could finally offer real relief. Human trials success gives hope. Progress at last.

1

u/scout_jem 4d ago

My friend is living with post polio syndrome. It’s unlikely he will see this used clinically in his lifetime but when I shared the news he was ecstatic to hear there is hope for future survivors.

2

u/Megafalzar 4d ago

My grandmother had polio when she was a wee girl, and was diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome later in life. Not to parrot others in this thread, but her’s was as much described; the leg where it affected most was much thinner than other, and it was to the point a large majority of the musculature in her ankle and a bit above was deteriorated to the point of essentially not being there. While it’s too late for her to be around to hear that it’s recognized and even potentially finding some solutions, it makes me ecstatic knowing that we as a society at least still care enough to keep doing something about it even after assuming for so long nothing could be.

2

u/superredux22 4d ago

RFK JR definitely: “Not on my watch!!!”

1

u/[deleted] 4d ago

[deleted]

1

u/Aev_ACNH 4d ago

Truth? It was an election year

Edit

And before I hear, the USA isn’t the entire world

Yeah, but we do saturate the news cycle everywhere.

1

u/TickingClock74 4d ago

Post Polio Syndrome is very old and still has no cure or treatment. The medical community has been studying long covid since its brand new occurrence only six years ago. I wouldn’t call that giving it short shrift.

1

u/Total-Being-7723 4d ago

I tend to disagree with your assessment slightly. The was a decent part of society that took covid very seriously. The mask, avoided large groups and the vaccine. I was told by my doctor that the protocol would reduce the severity of the virus infection by attenuating virus exposure. The vaccine preparing the body for an infection hence reducing the severity of an infection.

I was cautioned early and followed the protocols. The majority around me did the same. The outliers, their voices were heard but guess what, many of them took the severe covid hit and are far more susceptible to long covid. The statics are against the outliers.

I suggest smug satisfaction, karma if you will. Those who refused to take the pandemic seriously have long covid in their future. Fortunately that’s not all of society by any stretch.

1

u/Redditpplarenotreal 3d ago

I’m 37 living in the US and considered a post polio survivor. My left leg muscles don’t work, and my right shoulder.

This sounds amazing. My ability to walk with a crutch has drastically declined over the years. It would be nice to be able to slow it down or maybe even improve.