Scientists develop drug to help paralyzed walk again

January 12, 2013

As per scientists at Stanford University, they have developed a drug called LM11A-31 which they claim could help paralyzed people walk again. During tests on mice with no movement in their lower limbs, the drug was found to allow them to walk with ‘well-coordinated steps’ and even to replicate swimming motions.
The drug was tested for its ability to prevent the death of cells called oligodendrocytes. These cells cover and protect axons, long projections of a nerve cell, by wrapping them in a myelin sheath that protects the fibres. Besides functioning as axon insulation, myelin allows for the rapid transmission of signals between nerve cells.

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