Paralyzed rats with severed spinal cords are walking again

[Dr. Who]

The researchers, from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and Tel Aviv University, developed a method to repair the damaged spinal cord based on tissue engineering and implantation of stem cells, taken from the oral mucosa membrane in the mouth near the gums. The rats regained sensation and control of their lower limbs, the team reports.


Spinal damage can lead to irreversible paralysis as a result of damage to the nerve cells responsible for communicating between other nerves. Even though significant progress has been made in rehabilitation, and other areas such as neuronal transplants and tissue engineering, the effects of a fully severed spinal cord have never been reversed before.

https://www.haaretz.com/science-and-...emium-1.822329

Amazing research that promises to allow people to walk again. Sorry if the web page is a little basic. However, this is therapy that could be literally life-saving for people with upper spinal cord injuries, who can't even breathe without assistance.

[Peter1469]

Great news!

[Dr. Who]

Great news!

Yes. In my field, I see so many people whose lives are irrevocably changed by paralysis. Many never work again and they become forever dependent. Some can't handle it psychologically and become suicidal. It's great to see that there is now hope for them to reclaim their lives.

[resister]

Great! Now lets make some advances in stroke recovery!

[Kacper]

Thank God we might finally be able to save rats from extinction with this technology.

[Common]

Hopefully this will lead to a helping hand for humans that are paralyzed and give them their lives back

[resister]

Hopefully this will lead to a helping hand for humans that are paralyzed and give them their lives back

My landlord is 68 he is paralyzed from the chest down and mostly blind. Happened when he was 14, bee stings.

Sharp as a razor, though.

[Dr. Who]

My landlord is 68 he is paralyzed from the chest down and mostly blind. Happened when he was 14, bee stings.

Sharp as a razor, though.

If it happened today he would be treated with corticosteroids and likely wouldn't have ended up with paralysis.

[Don]

I think these breakthroughs are just the beginning. As far as the rats go that's good. After rats we will advance the research to monkeys and then politicians and finally on to humans.

[Dr. Who]

I think these breakthroughs are just the beginning. As far as the rats go that's good. After rats we will advance the research to monkeys and then politicians and finally on to humans.

I say spare the poor monkeys and go straight to the politicians. They are genetically slightly more like humans than monkeys.