In a new study in mice, a team of researchers from UCLA, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, and Harvard University have uncovered a crucial component for restoring functional activity after spinal cord injury. The neuroscientists have shown that re-growing specific neurons back to their natural target regions led to recovery, while random regrowth was not effective.

Scientists regenerate neurons that restore walking in mice after paralysis from spinal cord injury::In a new study in mice, a team of researchers from UCLA, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, and Harvard University have uncovered a crucial component for restoring functional activity after spinal cord injury. The neuroscientists have shown that re-growing specific neurons back to their natural target regions led to recovery, while random regrowth was not effective.

  • figaro@lemdro.idEnglish
    11·
    11 months ago

    What I’ve learned this means in practical terms is, “Wow! We are really good at healing mice!”

  • cooopsspace@infosec.pubEnglish
    11·
    11 months ago

    Insurance: Nah we aren’t gonna cover it. And for some reason our economical opinion trumps your own doctors medical opinion.

    • ikapoz@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      9·
      11 months ago

      This is actually one case insurance companies would be ALL OVER a real fix. People with spinal injuries have tons of medical complications that cost throughout their entire life. An insurance company would definitely be interested in unloading persistent fiscal drains like that.

      Don’t get me wrong, the medical insurance industry is a fucking terror, especially in the US with the degree of regulatory capture involved. In this one case though, a real cure would serve their interests at anything less than a massive cost on their part.

      • Jax@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        1·
        11 months ago

        If that’s the case, wouldn’t the same logic be applied to novel cancer treatments? Last time I checked those have a tendency to evaporate mysteriously, and insurance companies weren’t exactly stopping it.

        Idk, just seams a little idealistic.

    • photonic_sorcerer@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      51·
      11 months ago

      Animal testing has saved the lives of millions and improved billions. It’s gruesome, but necessary. Especially for research like this.

    • Rooty@lemmy.worldEnglish
      43·
      11 months ago

      People who value the lives of small rodents over the lives of fellow human beings should have their heads checked, because their moral compass is seriously out of whack.

        • Rooty@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          11 months ago

          Their whole consciousness reduced down to moving forward and backwards in a toy car. Absolutely barbaric.

          You’re making it sound like they did it for funsies, rather than important research. Also, link please, this sounds like a massive breakthrough.