A pioneer in the development of new technologies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, the International Center for Neurological Restoration (Ciren) applies a molecule-based treatment for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease that prevents neurons from continuing the process of degeneration.
Visiting Mexico, Héctor Vera Cuesta, director of Ciren, underlines the progress represented by the substance NeuroEPO, since it improves the quality of life of patients.
“The mechanism of the molecule is neuroprotective. It prevents neurons from continuing to degenerate, to die. What it does is prolong the life of those cells of the nervous system a little more, so the symptoms are more spaced out, the disease does not have such a rapid evolution, ”he explains.
The Cuban neurologist, an expert in medical genetics, says the results in patients with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease have been “spectacular”. The study began in patients with Parkinson’s disease and they detected that this substance improved their motor condition, but much more the cognitive part.
It is one of the molecules “that will give the world something to talk about. We recently published a joint article with the Cuban Center for Neurosciences, which confirms, with a thorough statistical analysis, its effectiveness. Without a doubt”.
Vera Cuesta indicates that soon NeuroEPO could be marketed. “We want to do a phase IV (of the clinical study), because each new molecule has a rigorous research process. At this stage, we want to apply it massively”.
He maintains that they are currently in the process of identifying the hospitals on the island where the study will be carried out, because “it has no side effects. It is very safe and very easy to administer, because it is done through the nose, where a few drops are administered”. He specifies that the development of this drug was carried out by Cuban biotechnology centers and that Ciren tested it on patients.
Created 33 years ago by Commander Fidel Castro Ruz, a non-profit organization for the development of neurosciences, “at Ciren we apply a unique program in the world. We bring together 11 specialists depending on a patient. It is a multidisciplinary team that takes care of a patient in a comprehensive and personalized way, achieving this is very difficult” for any country in the world, but in yours it is done thanks to “commitment” and the capacity of experts.
Also post covid
Ciren has also developed technological and therapeutic innovations for neuronal regeneration, which includes the care of patients suffering from epilepsy, sleep disorders, addictions, such as smoking, and recently post-Covid sequelae.
Due to the covid-19 pandemic, Ciren has developed an innovative comprehensive care program for people with sequelae caused by the virus, such as severe headaches, sleep disturbances, short-term memory loss , chronic fatigue and neuropathic pain (caused by damage to the nervous system). system), among others.
In interview with The dayin the facilities of Multisalud -a Mexican company that works with the Cuban health services and Ciren-, the specialist comments that the Center has been carrying out neurological restoration programs for three decades, aimed at treating the sequelae of diseases that affect the nervous system , and therefore – he assures – it was not difficult for them to adapt to post-Covid care.
“The intervention has the advantage of not being a therapeutic method, but a program with which you can make therapies more flexible. It is individualized, it goes according to the sequelae of the patient and, on the basis of a diagnosis, the treatment is organised.
Vera Cuesta states that patients “are improving, but with intensive comprehensive intervention, using all the tools available to Ciren, for example, ozone therapy, cognitive treatments and non-invasive brain stimulation, among others” .
The expert underlines that this intervention is part of a country strategy for the treatment of post-Covid syndrome.
“It was a gradual process in which we created the conditions in polyclinics and clinics to identify people, because many came out of covid and said later ‘such a thing happens to me’, we had to explain to them that these were sequelae and apply the intervention to continue to get better.
epilepsy can be cured
The doctor points out that the Center is also a leader in the treatment of epilepsy through surgery. “We are not the only ones in the world to do this procedure, but our results are excellent.”
Vera Cuesta adds that “of those of us who operate, 60% are seizure-free, and we’re talking about patients with 10 to 15 daily seizures. 15% have widely spaced seizures. In total, we have an efficiency of 75% These are the results of an epilepsy neurosurgery service in any developed country. This is part of our pride.”
He further states that “you can even heal the patient, if you remove the place where the seizure is generated”. This surgical intervention is carried out by a multidisciplinary team, since the objective is to guarantee people’s quality of life, which is why it is also performed on minors.
The scientist acknowledges that the blockade of his country, which has lasted for 60 years, has represented a challenge, because “it affects us, it limits us, but we have no choice but to continue development, because it does not There is no sign that he will be eliminated and that Cuba must continue to move forward.
He cites that for the same reason, the island has developed its own vaccines against covid-19, with which practically all 11 million inhabitants have been immunized, including children over the age of two.
Cuban medicine is accessible to foreign patients, who can come to Ciren for treatments lasting four to eight weeks. “Patients write to us or through our interlocutors we compile the files and if they meet the criteria, we give them permission to go to the Center”.
He details that 60% of the international patients that Ciren has received over the past 10 years are Mexican and announces that “there are more than five proposals from countries that wish to create Ciren clinics: Chile, Iraq, Angola and Kazakhstan. We are in negotiation. It also seems fair to me that we can transfer the technology we have developed to other countries.”