RESTART DCM workshop in Rotterdam in July 14-16th

Marie-Christen Franken has written to me regarding a workshop she is organizing in Rotterdam:

This July we will have an International RESTART DCM workshop in Rotterdam, so far 14 clinicians from all over the world have subscribed for that. We could book about 6 or so more. Maybe you would like to bring this to the attention of colleagues who might be interested?

You can view the invitation here.

Walking, talking, and sharing in the French Pyrenees with Paul

If you enjoy walking in wild natural environments, eating good food, and sharing your experiences with other like-minded people, this is for you!

In 2016 Paul Brocklehurst and Blanca Rubí are hosting a week-long retreat in the Pyrenean mountains, close to the French-Spanish border. Our aim is to provide opportunities for small groups of up to 10 people, all of whom have a connection with stuttering, to walk, talk, and share experiences in the midst of one of the most spectacular and beautiful natural environments that Europe has to offer.

There are still spaces free on the walk and talk. Both PWS and their partners welcome.

No, a quick cure for all is far away.

The author of this article is completely misinterpreting the likelihood of a cure: read here.

But of course that will prevent virtually no mainstream journalist and desperate pws to jump on the bandwagon.

Let me clarify the stuttering mouse hype:

1) this mutation as far as I understand occurs in 5% of all people who stutter. So even if those people could be cured, the remaining 95% would not.

2) even if the mutation is proven to cause it and we would know the causal link between mutation and neurobiology vulnerable to jams in the brain, there is no guarantee that the damage done by the mutation change be counteracted.

3) even if an antidote to the mutation can be found, e.g. by providing the body with the missing proteins that the mutation did not produce, the protein might have been critical for proper development of neurobiology and thus will only help children who are developing their neurobiology but not adult brains. A bit like it is too late to use better cement once the house is built!

4) even if an antidote exists, it is not clear whether it has side effects.

Nevertheless,

1) a hype for a cure, even if completely misguided, could lead to political pressure to put much more money into stuttering. Why are you financing stuttering research, you terrible politicians??? Do you want to be responsible that little stuttering kids are cured?

2) it is the first example of proving that genes are correlated with stuttering behaviour and untangling the causal link will definitely help us understand at least 5% of stuttering.