Swiss scientists have found a way to treat paralysis related to spinal cord injury by stimulating a specific set of neurons.
The researchers at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) – whose multi-year study was published in the journal Nature – identified specific neurons that, when activated, help restore a person’s ability to stand up and walk after paralysis.
Author Professor Gregorie Courtine told medicalnewstoday.com: ‘Neurons are at the core of any living creature’s nervous system. They communicate with one another to transmit electrical signals that can, for example, activate the muscles. In our research, we specifically target the neurons activated during leg movement.’
To discover these specific neurons, the team used cutting-edge imaging technologies to make a molecular atlas of all neurons present in the regions of interest in the spinal cord.
Professor Courtine explained: ‘Using optical stimulation, we’ve been able to deactivate specific neurons on animal models and see the effect of this procedure. This has allowed us
to identify precisely the neuron that was necessary and sufficient for the regeneration of a neurological pathway after a spinal cord injury.’
Following mouse trials, the researchers implanted 9 human volunteers with paralysis with a soft electrode array designed to stimulate electrically specific regions of the spinal cord, below the point of injury.
Professor Courtine said: ‘A computer triggered those stimulations, which mimic the signal normally sent by the brain when there is no injury. Bypassing the injury allowed us to activate artificially the leg muscles, and thus give the participants the opportunity to walk again.’
He added: ‘But we’ve observed that during the process, some biological connections were re-established or re-organised.
‘As an effect, after some time of training with electrical stimulation, the patients have been able to move their legs even without the external stimulation.’
