Nancy Wexler, 80, Publishes Memoir on Huntington’s Disease After Finding Its Gene
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 11
Nancy Wexler, 80, Publishes Memoir on Huntington’s Disease After Finding Its Gene
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 11
Summary
Nancy Wexler has released “My Life, My Science,” a memoir that arrives as the 80-year-old scientist lives with advanced Huntington’s disease and can no longer sign copies herself.
Her book traces a life shaped by a 50% inherited risk: her grandfather, mother and three uncles had Huntington’s, while her sister Alice did not.
Wexler became central to the field by leading research in Venezuela that identified the Huntington’s gene, work that later enabled a blood test for people at risk.
That decadeslong effort made her one of the disease’s defining researchers even as Huntington’s itself progressively took away her speech and mobility.
She dedicated her life to fighting Huntington's. Now that it has her, can a new wave of treatments succeed where others failed?
Decades after she found the Huntington's gene, what is the biggest barrier preventing her discovery from becoming a cure?
As rival gene therapies for Huntington's advance, will differing US and EU regulations decide which patients get treated first?
30 Years After the Huntington’s Gene: Nancy Wexler’s Legacy, Breakthroughs, and the Future of HD Research
Overview
Nancy Wexler’s newly published memoir, *My Life, My Science: Pursuing a Cure for Huntington’s Disease*, offers a powerful blend of personal reflection and scientific achievement. Drawing from her lifelong dedication, Wexler details how her team built a monumental family pedigree by gathering extensive histories and biological samples, all while providing ongoing support to those affected by Huntington’s disease. Her story highlights the deep satisfaction found in striving to save lives and addresses the persistent stigma surrounding HD, especially its cognitive and hereditary challenges. Through her advocacy and research, Wexler continues to inspire hope and progress in the fight against Huntington’s disease.