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Possible new cure for paralysis!


  3. kevung
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Scientists at Northwestern University have developed a material that can be injected into the spine which encourages nerves to grow. While still in research, positive results have been found when they used the material in paralyzed mice. Hopefully one day we could just inject ourselves with a material that will heal everything!
kevung

14 responses // Possible new cure for paralysis!

  • I'll wait to celebrate until it is scientifically proven, but this is a great step forward nonetheless.
    Egnatius212
  • There are tracks in the spinal cord. If the cord is cut it seems like this might cross tracks as white matter tries to repair itself. There may be some freaky results. It would be spectacular if this really works. Much better than electrical stim that does not even address the real problem. Maybe it would work with peripheral nerves?
    futuregen
  • Where did they find the paralyzed mice? Were they brought in by itty=bitty ambulances?
    patsarts
  • They probably paralyzed the mice themselves.

    That's quite true about the possible mismatch of tracks in the spinal cord. Mayhap a marvel superhero will emerge...or a person who bleeds from his eye when he should be getting an erection.

    Who knows?

    Exciting, in any case. As was said, a great step forward.
    Humdrum
  • Did Dr. Mario paralyze the mice
    515dsm
  • One tiny step at a time. This is exciting. I love to think that someday soon paralysis can be cured.
    Marilynn_Murray
  • So true Marilynn, this truly is an exciting breakthrough.

    Although it's probably a long way off, it's good to know things like paralysis could be curable in the future.
    mattbrawn
  • If only they'd done it in time to save Superman.

    In very simple theory, it should be like rewiring a plug (after recreating the wires). Nerves, once regenerated, have a good history of getting back to doing what they're meant to do.
    richjm
  • "Experiment on your damn selves! (squeak)" - Mice Over Men, Inc.
    huntre
  • This is amazing.

    On a related matter, who's looking forward to getting a stem-cell bill passed when Obama or Clinton get elected?
    LaWingman
  • I pray that it works for humans and will soon be released. I have two friends who, within less than a year of each other, were in bad road accidents and found themselves paralyzed - one from the waist down, the other from the neck down. Both are young men who were in their prime, the first one was a highly talented drummer who played in my son's group Nebra - http://www.myspace.com/nebraband - and the other was a postman and talented videographer. It breaks my heart to see these two once very dynamic young men thus damaged and "prisoners" of their wheelchairs.
    Vierotchka
  • I'm sorry to hear about your friends, hopefully the research will produce something that can help them.
    kevung
  • This research is very exciting.

    Fifteen years ago I was dating someone who was working a medical research lab. They were growing skin cells as part of a study to gain FDA approval for the technology/technique to grow and then graft the skin cells to burn / accident victims.

    Now, these "manufactured skin" is commonly used.

    If the past in an indicator of the future... I'm sure "manufactured" organs and nerves will soon be available to help those in need.

    See this video on "manufactured" organs.
    http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtm...
    TheRedOne
  • I just hope that the problem that Futuregen was talking about doesn't happen too often or at all. If that were the case, my first attempt at taking a step after suffering a debilitating injury might turn into me shitting my pants.
    CCashman

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