Sunday16 February 2025
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The key to new medications: researchers have discovered how the brain recovers after a stroke.

A stroke is a sudden and dangerous event that severely affects our brain. However, researchers have recently documented unique recovery processes that they aim to utilize in the development of new therapies.
Ученые раскрыли секрет новых препаратов, выяснив, как мозг восстанавливается после инсульта.

Researchers from the Department of Molecular Medicine at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) have gained new insights into one of the most severe consequences of stroke: damage to nerve fibers often referred to as the brain's "wires." This type of damage leads to long-term impairments as the brain attempts to fully recover from a stroke. However, the scientists have managed to create a unique map of the regeneration pathway, which could be a significant step in the search for medications, according to University of Southern Denmark Faculty of Health Sciences.

Utilizing unique tissue samples from the Danish Brain Bank at SDU, the study sheds light on the biological mechanisms underlying this partial recovery process and could aid in developing therapies that help the brain recover more effectively.

Stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is blocked, resulting in significant damage to nerve cells. The brain attempts to repair this damage by restoring the myelin sheath—a protective layer around nerve fibers that ensures proper signal transmission. However, this process is often incomplete, leaving many stroke survivors with persistent physical and cognitive impairments.

According to Professor Kate Lykke Lambertsen, the lead author of the study published in The Journal of Pathology, the brain has resources for self-repair but faces challenges, especially under inflammatory conditions. "We need to find ways to help cells complete their work even in difficult circumstances," she stated.

The study identified a key type of brain cell involved in myelin recovery, whose activity is hindered by inflammation. A significant breakthrough was achieved through the use of tissue samples stored in the Danish Brain Bank. Researchers employed staining techniques, such as immunohistochemistry, to map areas of the brain actively involved in the recovery process. These methods allowed them to distinguish the infarct core (the most damaged area), the peri-infarct zone (where restorative activity is concentrated), and regions that appeared unaffected by the stroke.

This precise mapping has deepened the understanding of how specific cells participate in the recovery of damaged myelin and how factors such as sex and time post-stroke influence their effectiveness. The research revealed notable gender differences in the brain's response to stroke. It turned out that women have a harder time recovering from brain damage due to the impact of inflammatory processes on restorative cells, while men generally exhibit a higher initial capacity for myelin recovery. These findings may explain why women often face more severe long-term complications after a stroke. "These differences highlight the importance of future treatments being more targeted and considering the sex and individual needs of patients," emphasized Lambertsen.

Central to these discoveries is the Danish Brain Bank—a resource containing over 10,000 human brain samples that support cutting-edge research on neurological diseases such as stroke, dementia, and multiple sclerosis. By analyzing these samples, scientists have been able to uncover cellular mechanisms of brain recovery and explore new strategies for treating neurological damage. This collection remains invaluable for researchers aiming to better understand brain diseases at the microscopic level.

This material is for informational purposes only and does not contain advice that may affect your health. If you are experiencing problems, consult a specialist.