https://newatlas.com/medical-devices/paralyzed-walk-again-spinal-cord-injury-deep-brain-stimulation/ * SUBSCRIBE AD-FREE * LOG IN * HOME * SCIENCE + Biology + Environment + Materials + Medical + Physics + Space + View all SCIENCE news + Biology + Environment + Materials + Medical + Physics + Space + View all SCIENCE news * TECH + AI & Humanoids + Consumer Tech + Energy + Manufacturing + Military + Robotics + Deals + View all TECHNOLOGY news + AI & Humanoids + Consumer Tech + Energy + Manufacturing + Military + Robotics + Deals + View all TECHNOLOGY news * TRANSPORT + Aircraft + Automotive + Bicycles + Marine + Motorcycles + Urban Transport + View all TRANSPORT news + Aircraft + Automotive + Bicycles + Marine + Motorcycles + Urban Transport + View all TRANSPORT news * LIFESTYLE + Outdoors + Tiny Houses + Architecture + Good Thinking + Holiday Destinations + View all LIFESTYLE news + Outdoors + Tiny Houses + Architecture + Good Thinking + Holiday Destinations + View all LIFESTYLE news * BODY & MIND + Medical Innovations + Wellness & Healthy Living + Illnesses and conditions + Brain Health + Medical Innovations + Wellness & Healthy Living + Illnesses and conditions + Brain Health (c) 2024 New Atlas New Atlas logo Menu * HOME * SCIENCE + Biology + Environment + Materials + Medical + Physics + Space + View all SCIENCE news * TECH + AI & Humanoids + Consumer Tech + Energy + Manufacturing + Military + Robotics + Deals + View all TECHNOLOGY news * TRANSPORT + Aircraft + Automotive + Bicycles + Marine + Motorcycles + Urban Transport + View all TRANSPORT news * LIFESTYLE + Outdoors + Tiny Houses + Architecture + Good Thinking + Holiday Destinations + View all LIFESTYLE news * BODY & MIND + Medical Innovations + Wellness & Healthy Living + Illnesses and conditions + Brain Health * SUBSCRIBE AD-FREE * LOG IN Show Search [ ]Search Query Submit Search Medical Devices Brain stimulation helps partially paralyzed patients walk again By Michael Irving December 08, 2024 * Facebook * Twitter * Flipboard * LinkedIn Inline image / # Brain stimulation helps partially paralyzed patients walk again A patient with a partial spinal cord injury walks with the help of Deep Brain Stimulation A patient with a partial spinal cord injury walks with the help of Deep Brain Stimulation EPFL View 2 Images 1/2 A patient with a partial spinal cord injury walks with the help of Deep Brain Stimulation EPFL 2/2 The improvements of deep brain stimulation persisted even after the implants were turned off EPFL [icon-mouse-sc] Two patients with spinal injuries have seen improvements in their ability to walk again, thanks to deep brain stimulation (DBS). Intriguingly, the therapy targets a region of the brain that normally isn't associated with motor skills. DBS involves surgically implanting electrodes into specific regions of the brain, where they can be activated to stimulate specific neurons. This technique has proven useful in treating neurological conditions like depression, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and anorexia. Now, DBS has been used to help two people with partial paralysis regain mobility in their legs. Researchers at EPFL and Lausanne University Hospital surgically implanted electrodes into the lateral hypothalamus (LH) region of their brains, while the patients were fully awake. "Once the electrode was in place and we performed the stimulation, the first patient immediately said, 'I feel my legs'," said Jocelyne Bloch, the neurosurgeon who performed the procedure. "When we increased the stimulation, she said, 'I feel the urge to walk!' This real-time feedback confirmed we had targeted the correct region, even if this region had never been associated with the control of the legs in humans. At this moment, I knew that we were witnessing an important discovery for the anatomical organization of brain functions." The second patient is Wolfgang Jager, a 54-year-old man from Austria, who has used a wheelchair since a spinal cord injury in 2006. Since the surgery, he has relied on it less. "Last year on vacation, it was no problem to walk a couple of steps down and back to the sea using the stimulation," said Jager. "I can also reach things in my cupboards in the kitchen." Patients showed immediate improvement to their mobility when the deep brain stimulation was switched on during rehabilitation. Patients could walk and even climb stairs with less aid than usual. Importantly, those improvements persisted even after the stimulation was switched off. The improvements of deep brain stimulation persisted even after the implants were turned off EPFL An intriguing aspect of the study is that the brain region they targeted wasn't previously known to have any connection with motor skills. The lateral hypothalamus is more closely associated with feeding, energy intake and reward behavior. But the researchers identified it as a point of interest while creating a whole-brain functional map, to see which neurons were transcriptionally active while relearning to walk after a spinal cord injury. Glutamatergic neurons buried deep in the LH emerged as strong and unexpected contenders. Studies in mice and rats with partial spinal cord injuries showed that stimulating these neurons improved the animals' ability to walk, paving the way for the current trials in humans. While no negative side effects were reported, the team says that further trials will need to be conducted to ensure the safety and efficacy of the technique. If these promising signs pay off though, we could have a new tool to boost mobility during rehab. The research was published in the journal Nature Medicine. The team describes the work in the video below. Stimulating hypothalamus restores walking in paralyzed patients Source: EPFL Tags Medical DevicesParalysisWalkDeep Brain StimulationBrainneurons NeuroscienceImplantEPFL * Facebook * Twitter * Flipboard * LinkedIn No comments Michael Irving Michael Irving Michael has always been fascinated by space, technology, dinosaurs, and the weirder mysteries of the universe. With a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing and several years experience under his belt, he joined New Atlas as a staff writer in 2016. Most Viewed * The world's first geared CVT, capable of smoothly changing ratios between zero and high gear Automotive World's first geared CVT: A 'holy grail' transmission in prototype form * The ram-rotor detonation engine: an unprecedented design promising class-leading efficiency from zero all the way to Mach 5 hypersonic speeds and beyond Aircraft The ram-rotor detonation engine: A new era of hypersonic propulsion * A novel dementia drug protects against the destruction of key brain cell structures Alzheimer's & Dementia 'Breakthrough' dementia drug looks to stop disease in its tracks Load More 0 comments Sign in to post a comment. Please keep comments to less than 150 words. No abusive material or spam will be published. There are no comments. Be the first! Saving comment... [ ] Post New Atlas logo GET OUR NEWSLETTER Over 220,000 people receive our email newsletter. Get your daily dose of extraordinary ideas! Register * HOME + SUBSCRIBE + FEATURES + REVIEWS + ABOUT + ADVERTISE + TERMS + PRIVACY + CONTACT + RSS + FAQ * SCIENCE + Biology + Environment + Materials + Medical + Physics + Space + Quantum Computing * TECHNOLOGY + AI & Humanoids + Computers + Consumer Tech + Drones + Energy + Home Entertainment + Manufacturing + Military + Music + Robotics + Telecommunications + Virtual Reality + Deals * TRANSPORT + Aircraft + Automotive + Bicycles + Marine + Motorcycles + Urban Transport * LIFESTYLE + Architecture + Around the Home + Children + Collectibles + Good Thinking + Holiday Destinations + Outdoors + Pets + Remarkable People + Tiny Houses + 20th Anniversary * BODY & MIND + Illnesses and conditions + Brain Health + Medical Innovations + AI in Health + Imaging & Diagnostics + Medical Devices + Psychedelics + Wellness & Healthy Living + Aging Well + Diet & Nutrition + Fitness & Exercise + Sleep Follow Us * twitter * instagram * pinterest * flipboard * facebook * linkedin (c) 2024 New Atlas