Effects of stroke 'reduced by stimulating brain protein'RSS Feed

The brain injury that occurs during a stroke could be rectified up to two days after the event, research has found.

Scientists at Lund University have discovered that by stimulating a protein in the brain known as the sigma-1 receptor, they can reinforce the brain's self-healing tendencies.

Professor Tadeusz Wieloch explained how researchers injected rats with a substance that activated the sigma-1 receptor and found that they regained function more rapidly than those not treated with the substance.

"This is an excellent example of how basic research can be translated into a healthcare setting and possibly lead to new and better therapies. It also exemplifies the fact that, within medical research, it is a long journey from experimental studies to results that benefit the patient," he said.

Meanwhile, scientists from the Locomotor Experience Applied Post-Stroke (LEAPS) trial reported that over half of stroke survivors who took part in a physical therapy program that involved walking, or a home-based treatment that focused on strength and balance, showed improved walking ability.

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Posted by Matthew Heap
 

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