In an exciting medical breakthrough, scientists have found that stem cells can help heal the brain after a stroke.
This discovery could lead to new treatments for people who suffer from long-term effects like trouble moving or speaking.
A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked or there is bleeding in the brain. This can kill brain cells and cause serious problems. Right now, there are no treatments that can repair the brain after this kind of damage.
Researchers at the University of Zurich have shown that special stem cells can help the brain grow new cells and fix itself. These stem cells, called neural stem cells, can turn into different types of brain cells.
The team led by Professor Christian Tackenberg and Dr. Rebecca Weber used stem cells made from regular human skin or blood cells, which were changed into a special form called induced pluripotent stem cells.
In their study, the scientists gave mice a stroke and then waited one week. After that, they placed the stem cells into the damaged part of the brain. Over the next five weeks, they found that the stem cells turned into working brain cells and even connected with the brain’s existing cells. This is a big step forward.
They also saw that the brain was healing in other ways. New blood vessels formed, swelling went down, and the brain’s protective barrier became stronger. Even more exciting, the mice were able to move better again after getting the stem cells.
To prepare for future human use, the team made the stem cells without using any animal products. They also found that waiting a week after a stroke to do the transplant might be better than doing it right away. This gives doctors more time to prepare the treatment.
The researchers are now working on ways to make the treatment even safer. They want to make sure the cells don’t grow out of control. They are also trying to find easier ways to deliver the cells into the brain, like through the blood instead of brain surgery.
While more work is needed before this can be tried in people, early signs are very hopeful. Trials using similar stem cells are already happening in Japan for Parkinson’s disease, and stroke may be next.
This study brings hope that one day, people who suffer strokes might regain lost functions and live better lives.
The study is published in Nature Communications.
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