Scientists from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have invented a new drug that can improve physical rehabilitation after a stroke. The drug, called DDL-920, has shown high effectiveness in restoring brain function in experiments.
Stroke and its consequences
A stroke is caused by a disruption in blood circulation in the brain and leads to a loss of coordination of movements. For most patients, full recovery is achieved through long-term intensive physiotherapy. However, this method does not help all patients equally.
How the new drug works
A research team led by Dr. John Varghese has found that stroke negatively affects the activity of neurons in the brain associated with the protein parvalbumin. These neurons are responsible for the rhythmic activity of the brain (gamma oscillations), which play an important role in coordinating movements. After a stroke, these oscillations are disrupted, and as a result, the patient loses the ability to move.
DDL-920 restores gamma oscillations by stimulating the activity of parvalbumin neurons and strengthens the lost connections in the brain. During the experiments, mice that received the drug achieved a full recovery of their ability to move.
Reaction of the scientific community
Scientists call the drug DDL-920 revolutionary, because previously there were no drugs that could replace physical therapy after a stroke. Dr. Thomas Carmichael, the lead author of the study, said the new drug could make rehabilitation easier and more effective. However, he noted that the research is still in the experimental stage on animals.
DDL-920 could usher in a whole new era in post-stroke treatment. If clinical trials are successful, the drug could bring new hope to millions of patients who need physical therapy. Scientists are now preparing to test the drug in humans.
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