Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
The spinal cord acts as a conduit between the brain and the rest of the body. Signals travel up and down the cord, relaying information about reflexes, motor function, and the five senses. This process happens so quickly and so frequently that most of us take it for granted.
But what happens when the spinal cord is damaged? Can it be repaired?
A human spine is comprised of 40 muscles, 33 vertebrae, and 31 pairs of nerves. Normally, these are well protected by layers of tissue, but trauma can cause the vertebrae to fracture or break entirely. The most common causes of spinal cord injuries are motor vehicle accidents and falls. Consequences depend on where the spine was damaged.
Cervical Section (Upper Part) - Controls breathing, head/neck movement, and shoulder/arm/hand movement. Vertebrae names begin with C (i.e., C1 through C8).
Thoracic Section (Middle Part) - Controls the chest and abdominal muscles, including rotation/side-to-side movement. Vertebrae names begin with T (i.e., T1 through T12).
Lumbosacral Section (Lower Part) - Controls the bowels and lower body. Vertebrae names begin with L or S (i.e., L1 through L5, S1 through S5).
Treatments vary from person to person and may consist of a combination of surgery, medication, and rehabilitation. Significant progress has been made, though, in coming up with effective remedies.
Stem Cells
These can be thought of as "blank" cells. They can be used to produce new stem cells or specialized cells. If you think of your body as a machine, then stem cells would be replacement parts. One could create cells to treat a multitude of conditions, including Parkinson's disease and diabetes. Understandably, research in this field has been gaining popularity.
Most stem cells have limits as to what they can become. Embryonic stem cells are the only ones that can be made into any type of cell or tissue. However, they are also the subject of much debate, because the embryo is destroyed after the extraction process. Recently, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were developed, which could alleviate some of the controversy. iPSCs come from adults but are programmed to revert to an embryonic stem cell-like state.
Preliminary tests using embryonic stem cells on animals have been promising--rats who were paralyzed were able to regain mobility. Human trials are currently focusing on seeing whether or not the cells are safe to use. Still, there is much optimism. We have only known about stem cells for the past 60 years; their full power has yet to be realized.
Other Breakthroughs
Surgery - Scientists have found a way to use other nerves to bypass the injured cord and reconnect the brain to the rest of the body. The procedure has been successful with rats, but requires further development for humans.
Brilliant Blue G (BBG) - This food dye has been used to stop molecules that cause paralysis. More studies are needed, though.
Minocycline - A drug originally used to treat acne, but has also been shown to restore movement. Further studies are underway.
Electrostimulation - A pacemaker-like device is used to deliver electrical impulses to stimulate the spinal cord. Individuals who are paralyzed could be able to walk again.
Nobody knows for sure when the next big discovery will be; however, we can be sure that there will be research advancements in the future. Now more than ever, experts from around the world are able to collaborate and share their findings, offering new hope to the newly injured and permanently paralyzed alike.
Together with our partners, the Caylan Boyse Foundation supports interdisciplinary research that focuses on the translation of new knowledge to improve lives. Every little step brings us closer to finding a complete cure for spinal cord injury.