Lebers Hereditary Optic Neuropathy disease affects one in 50,000 people, which means it makes the list of rare diseases. Unfortunately with rare diseases, treatment and possible cures are even rarer. 

However, in the case of Lebers Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, there may be one possible form of treatment. For some time now, the Eastern hemisphere has been using idebenone to treat LHONs disease patients. Idebenone has expanded into the United States, and you can find out more about it here and how it can help.

All About Lebers Hereditary Optic Neuropathy

Lebers Hereditary Optic Neuropathy disease or LHONs for short is a rare hereditary disease, which comes from the maternal side. More specifically, it's a Mitochondrial disease that causes vision loss mostly among young males. The disease does affect females as well, just at a much lower percentage. 

Symptoms of the disease begin to take effect in the early teen years or the early 20s of the adolescent's life. However, there are some cases in which symptoms of this rare disease appear during early childhood.

Cases of LHONs disease are typically the result of the mutations of the following genes: the MT-ND1, MT-ND4, MT-ND4L, and the MT-ND6. These genes are associated with the proteins that are part of a larger enzyme complex that is active within the Mitochondria. In more simple terms, they play a role in helping the Mitochondria of our cells to convert food into energy. 

Symptoms and Treatment of LHONs Disease

The main symptom of LHONs disease is vision loss. This would include blurry or cloudy vision, which is usually the first sign that the disease is taking effect. Over time, the person affected will experience a loss of their visual acuity as well as their color vision. This typically happens in one eye at a time, and in the longterm permanent blindness will occur. 

In more severe cases characterizing the condition of LHONs Plus, the symptoms include tremors, cardiac defects, as well as symptoms that are similar to those of Muscular Sclerosis (MS). These symptoms are all in addition to vision loss. 

LHONs disease does not currently have a cure or any treatments that are proven to work indefinitely. Typical treatment involves genetic counseling, low-vision aids, anti-apoptotic agents, and general Mitochondrial disorder therapies. However, Idebenone has emerged on the scene as a promising form of treatment that has had some success in preventing severe vision loss. 

What is Idebenone and How Does it Help?

Idebenone (IDE) is a synthetic replica of CoQ10—which is a naturally occurring compound within the body.

The compound is responsible for the transfer of electrons within the Mitochondria of each cell in the body for the purpose of converting food into energy. As we enter our early 20s, our CoQ10 levels begin to decline. 

Enter Idebenone, an antioxidant powerhouse that can do what CoQ10 can do—but better. The synthetic compound was initially created by a Japanese pharmaceutical company to prevent oxidation during organ transplants. In essence, Idebenone protects the body's cells from oxidative damage at a higher level.

Because of its strong antioxidant function, it has been used to treat a variety of conditions including Alzheimer's disease, liver disease, heart disease, and various nerve and muscle disorders including Multiple Sclerosis, Freiderich's Ataxia, and of course, LHONs disease.  

So, How Does it Help? Here are four ways Idebenones benefits those suffering from LHONs disease and other degenerative diseases:

1. It Packs an Antioxidant Punch

As mentioned earlier, Idebenone is the bigger and better version of CoQ10. Idebenone supplements are jam-packed with antioxidants that target and eliminate the free radicals that attack our cells.

In other words, the synthetic compound prevents cellular death and tissue damage by way of efficient energy transfer. This is precisely what keeps the cells throughout the body young and healthy—which is why idebenone was first used during organ transplants to prevent oxidation and tissue death.

2. It Improves Brain Function

LHONs disease is caused by a genetic mutation to the DNA within the Mitochondria. As we know, the Mitochondria are the infrastructure of the cells that provide the necessary energy for our bodies to function properly. The degradation of this infrastructure decreases energy production while increasing the damage done to each cell. 

Idebenone has the capacity to counteract those degenerative effects by restoring energy on the cellular level. This includes the nervous system and retinal cells, which results in an improvement in visual acuity. 

3. It Jump-Starts the Immune System Response

Idebenone doesn't just restore cellular energy, but it also removes waste from the cells and repairs them. Think of it as a total-cellular detox, which means that all of the body's organ systems get a fresh start as well.

Most importantly, this helps to clean up the body's immune system, giving it a jump-start. A healthy and fully-functioning immune system is the body's greatest defense against degenerative diseases.

4. It Protects from Neurotoxicity

Idebenone is also known to increase the nerve growth factor. It does this by protecting what is called the Myelin Sheath from damage along with the Mitochondria. 

By doing so, the synthetic compound offers protection against damaging amino acids found in dietary foods including MSG, artificial sweeteners, canned foods, meat, certain spices, etc.

Should You Take Idebenone Supplements?

Idebenone isn't just for rare and degenerative diseases. Much like CoQ10 supplements, lotions, and creams, idebenone is used for its anti-aging properties. If you want to learn more about Idebenone you can visit our site.

Or, if you have more specific questions, you can reach out to us. We'll be more than happy to guide you through all of our Idebenone products.