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Neuroregeneration: Growing Nerve Cells

Neuroregeneration: Growing Nerve Cells

by | Injury Care, Nerve Injury

Neuroregeneration could become an option for spinal cord injury treatments in the future. A spinal cord injury or SCI is when there is damage to the bundle of nerves and cells that send and receive signals from the brain and body. A spinal cord injury can be caused by direct trauma/injury to the cord or damage to the tissue and vertebrae. The damage can result in temporary or permanent changes in:

  • Sensation
  • Movement
  • Strength
  • Body function/s below the injury site.

There are incomplete and complete injuries. Injuries that cause limited or no cell death can achieve a full recovery. Injuries that are more serious and/or are higher on the spinal cord can cause permanent damage and/or paralysis. Automobile crashes, accidents, and serious falls are the most common causes of spinal cord injuries.

  • An incomplete injury means the cord can still transmit messages, but there is interference/disturbance.
  • A complete injury means communication and motor function/voluntary body movement is not transmitting.

Neuroregeneration: Growing Nerve Cells

Symptoms

Symptoms of a spinal cord injury include:

  • Unnatural or awkward positioning of the spine or head.
  • Pain or pressure in the head, neck, or back.
  • Numbness
  • Tingling
  • Loss of or changes in sensation in the hands and feet.
  • Problems with walking.
  • Weakness or inability to move parts of the body.
  • Loss of movement.
  • Paralysis can occur immediately or develop over time as swelling and bleeding affect the cord.
  • Loss of bladder and bowel control.
  • Changes in sexual function.
  • Difficulty breathing.

SCI Damage Control

A spinal cord injury affects the central nervous system, the body’s central headquarters. Damage can cause complications through what’s called the secondary injury cascade, which is a series of chemical reactions the body activates to help the situation. However, if the chemical response does not stop and stays active, it can worsen the injury. The body recognizes that an emergency has occurred and tries to go into a shut-down mode that kills off some of the cells in the central nervous system. When a spinal injury happens, treatment focuses on stopping the damage as quickly as possible to stop the injury cascade and prevent as much cell death as possible. This act is called neuropreservation, meaning that the team is trying to preserve and save as many nerve cells as possible.

Injury Neuroregeneration Treatment Studies

While current treatment primarily focuses on stopping as much damage as possible then going through physical therapies to maintain spinal alignment and rehabilitate the body, the future of injury treatment is looking towards regrowing and repairing the damaged nerve cells through a process known as neuroregeneration. Repairing nerves that have been damaged could change life for many. Neuroregeneration Treatments being studied include:

Surgery

  • A study in The Lancet Neurology presents how getting surgery as soon as possible after an injury can provide significant benefits.
  • The findings could change all of the guidelines for spinal cord injury.

Medication

  • A study on Riluzole, a medication that has shown promise to slow down nerve cell damage.
  • A team completed a randomized controlled trial for the medication; soon, the final results will be available.

Antibody treatment

Antibodies are being studied in two ways.

  • To stop nerve cells from being damaged.
  • To help damaged nerve cells regenerate.

Stem cells

  • Scientists are studying ways to grow new nerve cells from an individual’s stem cells without the need for embryonic stem cells.
  • Specialized stem cells could also be used to help other nerve cells regenerate.

Electrical stimulation

  • Another approach is using electrical stimulation to restore function in the spinal cord.
  • Therapy that could help a paralyzed individual walk again.

The Future of Neuroregeneration

Aside from early surgery intervention, most neuroregenerative treatments are not ready or accessible yet. There’s still much more research before it can become a mainstream treatment option. Treatment that involves regenerating nerve cells will take longer than a treatment designed to protect nerve cells. However, more clinical trials are expected to be done in the next few years, with stem cell therapies taking the longest. Some of these therapies could be ready to be used on actual patients in 5-10 years.

Body Composition

The Importance of Measuring Body Composition

Most diet and fitness programs focus on weight loss or gain. However, they tend to overlook that individuals have completely different body compositions. Body composition describes the amount of:

  • Fat
  • Bone
  • Water
  • Muscle
  • In the body.

Measuring body composition can tell a body’s unique makeup and help identify areas to work on to improve overall health and wellness. Body composition analysis provides a snapshot of an individual’s health/fitness levels to help achieve health goals from the inside out.

References

Aguilar, Juan et al. “Spinal cord injury immediately changes the state of the brain.” The Journal of neuroscience: the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience vol. 30,22 (2010): 7528-37. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0379-10.2010

Badhiwala, Jetan H; Wilson, Jefferson R; Witiw, Christopher D; et al. (February 2021). The Lancet Neurology Vol. 20, No. 2, P. 117. The Influence of Timing of Surgical Decompression for Acute Spinal Cord Injury: A Pooled Analysis of Individual Patient Data. DOI: 10.1016/S1474-4422(20)30406-3

Chari, Aswin et al. “Surgical Neurostimulation for Spinal Cord Injury.” Brain sciences vol. 7,2 18. 10 Feb. 2017, doi:10.3390/brainsci7020018

Non-Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Non-Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

by | Spine Care

Spinal cord injuries or SCI’s don’t just happen from intense force/high-energy trauma like hard falls or auto accidents. Non-traumatic spinal cord injuries are more common. However, traumatic spinal cord injuries tend to get the most attention. This can cause problems as it can delay treatment for individuals with a non-traumatic injury. Awareness is vital because spinal cord disorders tend to not get recognized for their impact on overall health.

Non-Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Non-traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Non-traumatic spinal cord injuries is an umbrella term that includes several disorders, like:

  • Degenerative cervical myelopathy
  • Degenerative spondylosis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Paget’s disease
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Metastatic cancer
  • Developmental disorders like Spina Bifida and cerebral palsy
  • Transverse myelitis
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease
  • Friedreich’s ataxia

Understanding these disorders helps determine a correct diagnosis. Degenerative cervical myelopathy or DCM is the most common form of a non-traumatic spinal cord injury. It is a slow progressive injury that causes continued compression usually brought on by spondylosis or osteoarthritis of the spine’s joints. DCM can have a devastating effect on the quality of life if not diagnosed and treated as it can have a ripple effect by raising the risk of falls, leading to a traumatic spinal cord injury. Being aware can help in preventing the damage.

Other Causes and Complications

Other causes for non-traumatic spinal cord injury include:

  • Nerve damage
  • Blood supply loss to the spinal cord
  • Compression from a tumor or blood clot
  • Infection
  • Spinal abscess
  • Atherosclerosis

One of the most significant risk factors is age. This is due to an increased risk of conditions like osteoarthritis and hypertension as individuals get older, which is why individuals with a non-traumatic spinal cord injury are, on average, older than individuals that suffer a traumatic spinal cord injury. Weakness, instability, and loss of muscle control are common complications that can develop as the non-traumatic spinal cord injury progresses. Other complications that can present include:

  • Chronic pain
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Constipation
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Impotence
  • Pressure ulcers/bed sores if immobilized
  • Possible blood clots that can lead to deep vein thrombosis
  • Depression and anxiety

Treatment

With a traumatic spinal cord injury, treatment depends on the severity of the injury. With non-traumatic spinal cord injuries, treatment depends on what type of condition is involved. The primary treatment for non-traumatic spinal cord injuries typically involves various forms of rehabilitation to minimize further damage to the spinal cord. Surgery may be necessary if the spine needs to be decompressed.

Body Composition

Extracellular Water and Intracellular Water

Extracellular Water – ECW

  • Extracellular is the water located outside the body’s cells.
  • The water in the blood falls into this category.
  • Around 1/3 of the body’s fluid is attributed to ECW, and this water is found in the interstitial fluid, transcellular fluid, and blood plasma.
  • This water is important because:
  • It helps control the movement of electrolytes.
  • Allows oxygen delivery to the cells.
  • Clears waste from metabolic processes.

Intracellular Water – ICW

  • Intracellular is the water located inside the body’s cells.
  • It comprises 70% of the cytosol, which is a mix of water and other dissolved elements.
  • It makes up the other 2/3 of the water inside the body.
  • Intracellular water is important because:
  • It helps in cellular processes.
  • Allows molecules to be transported to the different organelles inside the cell.
  • Picks up where the extracellular water leaves off by continuing the pathway for fuel/energy to be transported to the cells.
References

Badhiwala, Jetan H et al. “Degenerative cervical myelopathy – update and future directions.” Nature reviews. Neurology vol. 16,2 (2020): 108-124. doi:10.1038/s41582-019-0303-0

Handbook of Clinical Neurology (2012) “Spinal Cord Injury.” https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/non-traumatic-spinal-cord-injury

Milligan, James et al. “Degenerative cervical myelopathy: Diagnosis and management in primary care.” Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien vol. 65,9 (2019): 619-624.

Physical Management in Neurological Rehabilitation (2004) “Spinal cord injury.” https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/non-traumatic-spinal-cord-injury

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