Stroke (paralysis), which occurs with the deterioration of blood flow in the brain and the death of brain cells, causes the person to partially or completely lose his functions in a certain part of his body. It is not uncommon for this life-long condition to disappear after many years.
With new research published recently, a new hope has emerged against stroke. Scientists have enabled two paralyzed individuals to regain their body functions with a new method developed. One of these individuals had been paralyzed for nine years and was unable to move his left arm and hand.
What is this method of preventing paralysis?
In the experimental method they developed, the team at the University of Pittsburgh placed a pair of thin metal electrical implants at a specific point in the spinal cord. This point was the point where the desired neural network was located, depending on the point where the person had a stroke.
When this device placed in the spinal cord was turned on, the electrodes in the device sent electrical signals to the spinal cord. This current aimed to strengthen the neural network communication in the spine to assist movement as opposed to forcing the muscles to move.
In other words, weak signals passing through the nerves in the spinal cord were strengthened and it was desired to enable the person to move.
Two people regained bodily functions:
The two people involved in the study of the experimental method also had different types of stroke. But both people were able to start moving their arms and hands. Subjects were exposed to this treatment for four hours a day, five days a week for one month.
The difference between people’s ability to move their arms and hands when the device is active and off is also demonstrated in the video above. One of the paralyzed people, Heather Rendulic, was able to open and close her hands again nine years later.
On the other hand, from the UK Stroke Association, Dr. Rubina Ahmed stated that the research is still in its early stages and surgical implants may not be suitable for everyone. Ahmed explained that stimulation methods that can be used by a wider audience are also being tested.
The results obtained with the new method have been published in Nature.
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