The brain makes some new nerves after stroke, this is well known. The connection of those nerves to the old circuits varies from completely effective to clumsy mis connections that are not useful. But new nerves can be created and they can be effective at replacing old function- but no always.
Here is an abstract related to the use of bone marrow stem cells after a stroke
Quote:
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation improves recovery from ischemic stroke in animals. We examined the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of cell therapy using culture-expanded autologous MSCs in patients with ischemic stroke. We prospectively and randomly allocated 30 patients with cerebral infarcts within the middle cerebral arterial territory and with severe neurological deficits into one of two treatment groups: the MSC group (n = 5) received intravenous infusion of 1 × 108 autologous MSCs, whereas the control group (n = 25) did not receive MSCs. Changes in neurological deficits and improvements in function were compared between the groups for 1 year after symptom onset. Neuroimaging was performed serially in five patients from each group. Outcomes improved in MSC-treated patients compared with the control patients: the Barthel index (p = 0.011, 0.017, and 0.115 at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively) and modified Rankin score (p = 0.076, 0.171, and 0.286 at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively) of the MSC group improved consistently during the follow-up period. Serial evaluations showed no adverse cell-related, serological, or imaging-defined effects. In patients with severe cerebral infarcts, the intravenous infusion of autologous MSCs appears to be a feasible and safe therapy that may improve functional recovery. Ann Neurol 2005;57:874-882
FROM HEREIt's small and early work but more is going along those lines all over the world for stroke and MS. A canadian company called Stem Cell Therapeutics is susing human chorionic gonadotropin and an erythropoietin stimulator together to cause the persons post stroke to MAKE a lot of stem cells themselves. I find that idea really cool--it's just a couple of medications... They seem to be having results with their early patients post stroke.
From their website
Quote:
Our lead program, NTx®-265, is a regimen of two approved and marketed drugs targeting the treatment of stroke. The therapy works by stimulating the growth and differentiation of new neurons to replace the brain cells that are lost or damaged by the stroke and importantly, to direct motor, visual and cognitive recovery after acute ischemic stroke. Our approach avoids surgical transplantation of stem cells; instead we use drugs to stimulate the body’s own existing adult stem cells
But it also may be true that such a therapy is no better than aggressive physical therapy... Before my computer blew up and I lost my fav links I had one to a study where people 6 years post strokewere given aggressive PT and even THEY got better.
I am glad they are going forward with this kind of stuff though.
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