Scientists have successfully repaired the severed spinal cords in mice, thus restoring its ability to use its legs. A bunch of mice that used to drag their hind legs behind them when they crawled around have miraculously regained at least partial use of their rear legs. Astonishingly, their severed spinal cords have been repaired, at least partly, without surgery or drugs.
All it took was a simple injection of a liquid containing tiny molecular structures developed by Stupp and his colleagues at Northwestern University. Six weeks later, the mice were able to walk again. They don't have their former agility, but their injuries should have left them paralyzed for life.
If he and others in the field are on the right track, one of these days tragic diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's will be a thing of the past. And the crippled will walk again as the human body repairs itself in ways that it cannot do today.
Link & Image: ABC
Tags: Spine | Spinal Cords | Repaired | Medicine
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