When a spinal cord injury occurs, sometimes it's the body's own immune system that causes the subsequent paralysis. In the not-too-distant future, however, it's possible that an injection of nanoparticles at the injury site may be able to rein in the well-meaning but destructive immune cells.
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A spinal cord injury doesn’t need to be complete to cause paralysis – even with some nerves left intact, messages from the brain still don’t get through. While investigating why, researchers determined that a certain drug helps balance the Yin and Yang of the nervous system to restore limb movement.
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A team of researchers has successfully regenerated spinal tissue in rat models. Using a common antibiotic as the on/off switch, the therapy breaks down scar tissue and allows new nerve cells to grow, resulting in rats with spinal injuries relearning complex hand movements.
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Six people suffering varying degrees of paralysis have now regained the use of their hands and fingers after participating in a UCLA-led study of a nonsurgical, noninvasive spinal stimulation technique.
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Researchers at Caltech have induced a range of sensations in the arm of a paralyzed man. Electrodes implanted in the brain stimulated the neurons to produce different feelings. The research could eventually lead to prosthetic limbs that allow users to feel realistic sensations through them.
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There are some paraplegic rats that are now able to walk again, or that are at least coming close to doing so, and it's thanks to human stem cells. The cells essentially helped bridge a gap that scientists had introduced in the animals' spinal cords.
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Consisting of a cap to detect electrical signals in the brain and a brace that is worn over a paralyzed hand, a new device designed by researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine can help stroke victims retrain undamaged parts of their brain to regain control of paralyzed limbs.
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