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In the news – UCLA researchers identify molecular process that could accelerate recovery from nerve injuries

Andrew Skinner October 3, 2019 News

In the news

The Craig H Neilsen Foundation shares amazing advances in science.

Take a look at this article recently published from UCLA.

Researchers identify molecular process that could accelerate recovery from nerve injuries.

"Twenty million Americans suffer from peripheral nerve injuries, which can be caused by traumas such as combat wounds and motorcycle crashes as well as medical disorders including diabetes. These injuries can have a devastating impact on quality of life, resulting in loss of sensation, motor function and long-lasting nerve pain. The body is capable of regenerating damaged nerves, but this process is slow and incomplete...."

"Unlike the nerves in the brain and spinal cord, which are protected by the skull and vertebrae, the nerves of the peripheral nervous system have no such protection, leaving them vulnerable to injury. While the body has a mechanism to help peripheral nerves reestablish connections after injury, this process is slow; damaged nerves regrow at an average rate of just one millimeter per day."

"In preclinical tests using mouse models with peripheral nerve injuries, Butler’s lab showed that this molecular process can be manipulated to make nerves grow faster. Specifically, they found that mice that were genetically engineered so that the Limk1 gene was removed exhibited a 15% increase in the speed of nerve regrowth following injury."

Read the entire article HERE


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