Olympian Sarah Winckless Hails Huntington’s Disease Treatment as “Absolutely amazing”
Henley-on-Thames, UK – team GB rowing champion Sarah Winckless has welcomed news of a new gene therapy that can slow the progression of Huntington’s disease by 75% as a “real breakthrough.” The announcement offers renewed hope for individuals and families affected by the devastating inherited condition.
Huntington’s disease, a relentlessly progressive brain disorder resembling a combination of dementia, Parkinson’s, and motor neurone disease, impacts families across generations. Winckless, who carries the Huntington’s gene herself, described the treatment news as “absolutely incredible,” drawing on her personal experience with the disease’s impact. her mother began experiencing symptoms at age 40, ultimately requiring a wheelchair for the final seven years of her life before passing away in 2019.
The new treatment involves a complex gene therapy administered during 12 to 18 hours of delicate brain surgery. Winckless expressed optimism that within five years, multiple options will be available to stop or slow the disease’s progression. She emphasized the continued need for support and investment in charities dedicated to Huntington’s disease to ensure the treatment reaches those who need it.
Individuals with a parent carrying the altered gene face a 50% chance of inheriting Huntington’s disease. Winckless, a bronze medalist in the women’s double sculls at the 2004 Athens Games, hopes the new therapies will dramatically alter the outlook for future generations.
