It has been just revealed the fact that immune cell transformation is able to revive brain function following a stroke. Check out the latest reports about the matter below.
Restoring our minds
Scientists have made a breakthrough in the treatment of stroke patients by successfully reprogramming immune cells to replace damaged brain cells and restore brain function after a stroke-like injury.
According to estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 795,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke each year.
Strokes result from blocked, narrowed, or burst blood vessels in the brain and can lead to serious brain damage.
Over half of stroke survivors aged over 65 experience reduced mobility, and permanent memory loss, cognitive impairment, and mood disorders are among the other complications that can arise.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 795,000 people in the U.S. experience a stroke every year. Strokes are caused by blocked, narrowed, or burst blood vessels in the brain and often lead to severe brain damage.
As a result, more than half of stroke survivors aged over 65 experience reduced mobility, and it can lead to permanent memory loss, cognitive impairment, mood disorders, and other complications.
“Currently, there is no effective treatment for stroke patients to restore neurological function,” Taito Matsuda, assistant professor in the Department of stem cell biology and Medicine at Kyushu University in Japan, said.
Recent study offers new hope
It can be concerning it can be to think about the permanent damage that can happen to our brains.
Brain cells are different from other cells in our body, and unlike most cells, they cannot be easily regenerated. However, a recent study might offer some hope.
Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Matsuda and colleagues, the study found a solution for replacing lost neurons. Our brains have two main types of cells: neurons, which act like the wires of the brain, and glial cells, which act like electricians, maintaining and protecting the neurons.
Among these glial cells are microglia, immune cells that are specialized in defending the brain from infections and damage.
With the help of cutting-edge biotechnology, the team was able to turn microglial cells into neurons. This discovery could potentially lead to groundbreaking treatments for brain damage in the future.
