Study reveals that brain stimulation aids in walking for injured individuals
Researchers have unveiled a brain stimulation method that may assist individuals with spinal cord injuries in walking more effectively.
TroibNews 
On Monday, scientists announced that electrically stimulating a specific area of the brain may assist individuals with spinal cord injuries in achieving improved mobility; one participant shared how this technique helped him overcome his fear of stairs.
The newly developed method targets individuals whose spinal cord injuries have not completely severed the connection between the brain and spinal cord, allowing for some leg movement.
Wolfgang Jaeger, one of the two participants in an early study, remarked that the procedure had an immediate and significant impact on his ability to move. "Now when I see a staircase with just a few steps, I know I can handle it on my own," the 54-year-old expressed in a video accompanying the new study published in Nature Medicine.
This research was led by a Swiss team known for several recent innovations, including employing electrical stimulation of the spinal cord to enable certain paralyzed patients to walk again. This time, the researchers aimed to pinpoint the brain region crucial for recovery from spinal cord injuries.
Employing 3D imaging technology to analyze brain activity in mice with spinal cord injuries, the team constructed what they referred to as a "brain-wide atlas." They were surprised to identify that the area they were investigating was located in the lateral hypothalamus, an area known to regulate arousal, feeding, and motivation.
Neuroscientist Gregoire Courtine from Switzerland's Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne commented, "A particular group of neurons in this region appears to be involved in the recovery of walking after spinal cord injury."
Following this discovery, the team sought to enhance the activity of these neurons through a method known as deep brain stimulation, which is frequently used to address movement disorders in Parkinson's disease patients. This procedure involves implanting electrodes into the identified brain region, which are connected to a device placed in the patient's chest. Once activated, the device sends electrical impulses to the brain.
The researchers initially validated their hypothesis on rats and mice, observing that it "immediately" improved walking, as indicated in the study.
The first human participant in the 2022 Swiss trial was a woman with an incomplete spinal cord injury, similar to Jaeger. Neurosurgeon Jocelyne Bloch recounted that, upon activation of her device for the first time, she stated, "I feel my legs." When the electrical current was increased, she expressed, "I feel the urge to walk," according to Bloch.
Participants could activate their device when needed, in addition to undergoing several months of rehabilitation and strength training. The woman's objective was to walk independently without assistance, while Jaeger aimed to navigate stairs on his own. "Both of them reached their goal," Bloch confirmed.
Jaeger, hailing from Kappel, Switzerland, recounted a vacation scenario involving eight steps leading down to the sea. With the device activated, he shared that "walking up and down the stairs was no problem." He added, "It's a great feeling when you don't have to rely on others all the time." Over time, he noted that he "became faster and could walk longer" even without the device.
Despite the promising results, further research is essential, and this approach may not be suitable for all patients, Courtine pointed out. The effectiveness of the technique hinges on the extent of signal transmission initially present between the brain and spinal cord.
Additionally, while deep brain stimulation has become relatively routine, Courtine acknowledged that some individuals may be apprehensive about undergoing brain surgery. The researchers anticipate that, in the future, a combined approach involving stimulation of both the spinal cord and the lateral hypothalamus could offer the greatest potential for recovery from such injuries.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
The newly developed method targets individuals whose spinal cord injuries have not completely severed the connection between the brain and spinal cord, allowing for some leg movement.
Wolfgang Jaeger, one of the two participants in an early study, remarked that the procedure had an immediate and significant impact on his ability to move. "Now when I see a staircase with just a few steps, I know I can handle it on my own," the 54-year-old expressed in a video accompanying the new study published in Nature Medicine.
This research was led by a Swiss team known for several recent innovations, including employing electrical stimulation of the spinal cord to enable certain paralyzed patients to walk again. This time, the researchers aimed to pinpoint the brain region crucial for recovery from spinal cord injuries.
Employing 3D imaging technology to analyze brain activity in mice with spinal cord injuries, the team constructed what they referred to as a "brain-wide atlas." They were surprised to identify that the area they were investigating was located in the lateral hypothalamus, an area known to regulate arousal, feeding, and motivation.
Neuroscientist Gregoire Courtine from Switzerland's Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne commented, "A particular group of neurons in this region appears to be involved in the recovery of walking after spinal cord injury."
Following this discovery, the team sought to enhance the activity of these neurons through a method known as deep brain stimulation, which is frequently used to address movement disorders in Parkinson's disease patients. This procedure involves implanting electrodes into the identified brain region, which are connected to a device placed in the patient's chest. Once activated, the device sends electrical impulses to the brain.
The researchers initially validated their hypothesis on rats and mice, observing that it "immediately" improved walking, as indicated in the study.
The first human participant in the 2022 Swiss trial was a woman with an incomplete spinal cord injury, similar to Jaeger. Neurosurgeon Jocelyne Bloch recounted that, upon activation of her device for the first time, she stated, "I feel my legs." When the electrical current was increased, she expressed, "I feel the urge to walk," according to Bloch.
Participants could activate their device when needed, in addition to undergoing several months of rehabilitation and strength training. The woman's objective was to walk independently without assistance, while Jaeger aimed to navigate stairs on his own. "Both of them reached their goal," Bloch confirmed.
Jaeger, hailing from Kappel, Switzerland, recounted a vacation scenario involving eight steps leading down to the sea. With the device activated, he shared that "walking up and down the stairs was no problem." He added, "It's a great feeling when you don't have to rely on others all the time." Over time, he noted that he "became faster and could walk longer" even without the device.
Despite the promising results, further research is essential, and this approach may not be suitable for all patients, Courtine pointed out. The effectiveness of the technique hinges on the extent of signal transmission initially present between the brain and spinal cord.
Additionally, while deep brain stimulation has become relatively routine, Courtine acknowledged that some individuals may be apprehensive about undergoing brain surgery. The researchers anticipate that, in the future, a combined approach involving stimulation of both the spinal cord and the lateral hypothalamus could offer the greatest potential for recovery from such injuries.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
