Active lifestyle indicated for repairing spinal cord injury

According to a new study, living an active life could help repair and regenerate damaged spinal cord nerves after injury. The results of the first studies were published in the last issue of the journal. Translational medicine science.

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Using mouse and rat models, the international research team, led by scientists from Imperial College London, discovered that spinal lesions could be repaired after being damaged by l & # 39; exercise.

The team provided lab animals with an exercise wheel and other activity toys with partners. The animals tested also received extra space to move.

In response, the animals became more active and scientists noticed that nerve cells damaged in their spine were starting to regenerate. They also used a drug to mimic the effects of an active lifestyle and discovered that it could also regenerate damaged nerve cells.

"It's almost as if the nerve cells were initiated for regeneration »

Researchers agree that their work is still in the early stages but opens a "realistic path" toward regeneration and repair of damaged spinal cord tissue. The hope is that these results could soon also be translated for human patients.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that people with active lifestyles may recover more after spinal cord injury than those who are less active.

Our studies corroborate these results.

From what we have seen, it is almost as if the nerve cells were "prepared" for regeneration and growth, which contributes to this improved recovery. "

Professor Simone Di Giovanni, lead author

Exercise leads to "changes in gene expression"

The researchers explain that the spinal cord contains nerve fibers that have long axons or tails that extend into the spine and that, when damaged, can be severed. They then fail to convey the signals from the body to the brain and vice versa. The damage is in most cases irreversible, most victims being paralyzed.

Professor Di Giovanni explained, "We discovered that an enrichment of the environment, such as housing mice in a cage larger than usual, with more mice, more toys, tunnels, swings, wheels, etc. increases the activity of neurons. This leads to changes in gene expression, which makes the nerve more likely to regenerate. Essentially, by increasing the activity of neurons sensitive to enriched environmental stimuli, we have been able to promote the regenerative potential of the nerves after spinal cord injury. "

"Further studies are needed" before treatment can be extended to humans

"In principle, this type of treatment is not far from being tested in the clinic. Further studies are needed to demonstrate that the drug is safe for humans, before it can be tested. But in the future, it could possibly be badociated with neurorehabilitation in the context of clinical trials, "concluded Di Giovanni.