Brain injury breakthrough in neuro pathwaysRSS Feed

Scientists may be able to induce the brain to repair itself, thanks to a major new discovery made by a team at the Children's National Medical Center in the US.

Two types of signalling pathways that are activated during brain cell development have been found to operate together to determine the amount and types of brain cells to be created in both growing young brains and adult brains needing repairs, such as after a brain injury.

By understanding the epidermal growth factor receptor pathway and the Notch pathway, the scientists say it may be possible to develop genetic or molecular approaches targeting those signals to help induce brain regeneration from neural stem cells.

Dr Vittorio Gallo, director of the Center for Neuroscience Research at Children's National, said: "These signalling pathways, normally activated during brain development, work in concert through the cellular microenvironment and through interactions with existing brain cells to determine how many of each type of brain cell are required for proper brain function."

The knowledge may help to treat soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq, many of whom suffer traumatic brain injury.

News brought to you by Serious Law specialists in brain injury

Posted by Paul Breen

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