Press release: Unique research effort on rare disease

Relatively little research is being conducted into the neurological disease CBD, and as a result of which, not much is known about the as yet incurable and terminal disease. This is something which the newly formed CBD Solutions wants to change, and to this end it is starting a unique international collaboration project which will see researchers all over the world joining forces to try to find a way to cure or slow down the progression of CBD.

CBD, which stands for corticobasal degeneration, is an extremely rare disease. It is estimated that around 145 people are affected in Sweden, although the figure is probably higher.

The symptoms are often misinterpreted as Parkinson's disease or stroke, for example. The disease damages the nerve cells, affecting motor and cognitive functions. In time, the person affected will be wheelchair-bound and unable to communicate. Many bodily functions will cease, with even eye movement being affected. Among the cases known, onset has been after the age of 60.

World-leading researchers gathered in Stockholm

On 2nd September some of the world's leading neurological researchers from the USA, Canada, the UK and Sweden gathered at Stockholm's Karolinska Institutet to discuss their experiences of CBD. The conference fires the starting shot in an effort to find a cure for the disease.

The work is being led by Professor Samuel Svensson in conjunction with Associated Professors Björn Bloth and Per Svenningsson of Karolinska Institutet, who are also both medical doctors.

Broad collaboration

When businessman and philanthropist Sten Mortstedt's wife, Karin, was diagnosed with CBD, Sten became aware that the disease had so far attracted little attention. His charitable trust therefore launched Karin & Sten Mortstedt CBD Solutions AB ("CBD Solutions?) with the aim of supporting the research and, by extension, finding a cure for CBD.

CBD Solutions will work in accordance with a unique concept not previously used in the world of research. The focus is on broad collaboration solutions with academic researchers, patient associations, charitable funds and the pharmaceutical industry. It is hoped that this will serve as a catalyst among players who do not normally collaborate.

Something else that is unusual in this context is that the project is being run in the form of a company, with the same driving forces as a commercial business but on a non-profit basis. It is a purely philanthropic enterprise.

"This innovation has met with a fantastic response from the various research institutions we've been in contact with,"  says Professor Samuel Svensson, CEO.

Researchers who want to study the problems of CBD in greater depth will be able to apply for grants from CBD Solutions. The initial focus will be on collating data and drawing up better diagnosis criteria. It is important to find patients with a pure form of the disease.

Similarities to dementia-type diseases

The degenerative changes in the brain are believed to be caused by the protein tau, which accumulates in what are known as protein aggregates. Such accumulations are also found in patients with dementia-type diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and frontal lobe dementia.

Senior researchers at CBD Solutions, who also have extensive experience of research into Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, believe that it is possible to utilise this common starting point.

For more information, visit www.cbdsolutions.se or contact Samuel Svensson, CEO mobile +46 (0)73 354 21 94, or email: samuel.svensson@cbdsolutions.se