Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Scientists Restore Walking After Spinal Cord Injury

Posted by kdawson on from the man-who-mistook-his-legs-for-a-pair-of-scissors dept.

Spinal cord damage blocks the routes that the brain uses to send messages to the nerve cells that control walking. Until now, doctors believed that the only way for injured patients to walk again was to re-grow the long nerve highways that link the brain and base of the spinal cord. For the first time, a UCLA study shows that the central nervous system can reorganize itself and follow new pathways to restore the cellular communication required for movement. The lead researcher said, "This pessimistic view [that severe injury to the spinal cord means permanent paralysis] has changed over my lifetime, and our findings add to a growing body of research showing that the nervous system can reorganize after injury."

4 of 181 comments (clear)

  1. Good news for paraplegic mice! by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 5, Funny

    The entire population of paraplegic mice are rejoicing today in the hopes that this news pans out.

    --
    liqbase :: faster than paper
  2. Oh, I get it! by martin-boundary · · Score: 2, Funny

    Brain interprets severed spine as censorship and routes around it :)

  3. Keep on forking in the real world by Sciryl+Llort · · Score: 3, Funny

    One more heart that was stopped. Two more eyes that will never see. Two more hands that will never touch. Two more legs that will never run. One more mouth that will never speak.

    It's one more kid that'll never go to school
    That'll never fall in love never get to be coooo-oool.
  4. Re:Anecdote by Frnknstn · · Score: 3, Funny

    Is that what you told the feds when they busted you for being a pedo?

    --
    If it's in you sig, it's in your post.