When someone suffers a traumatic brain injury or other catastrophic injury, often that person also suffers damages to peripheral nerves within the nervous system.
Nervous system
Peripheral nerves are crucial in connecting the brain and spinal cord to the body. When they are damaged or do not function properly due to disease there is no movement or sensation. Nerve damage is also associated with pain, tingling and numbness, as well as a loss of coordination.
But researchers and scientist have discovered a method for enhancing nerve regeneration that could lead to new treatments for people who suffer nerve damage due to traumatic injuries like TBI or from diseases.
According to the online science publication Science Daily, University of Calgary scientists have developed a method to enhance nerve regeneration in the peripheral nervous system.
This regeneration is important in order for nerve cells that have been damaged due to a traumatic injury or disease to functional normally again.
Damage to peripheral nerves is common in catastrophic injuries and was previously thought to be irreversible.
Researchers examined the pathways that help nerves function, grow, and survive. They then looked at the molecular brake known as PTEN, which impacts normal cell growth after an injury. But by blocking this molecular brake, scientist could increase nerve growth.
The research has only been conducted with rat models and is in its early stages but scientists hope that it will lead to new treatments that will help injury victims and patients who suffer from nerve damage due to disease like diabetes or traumatic injuries like TBI.
