Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have found that a spinal cord implant can help people with spinal muscle atrophy (SMA) regain some muscle function. In a month-long study, three adults with SMA, a genetic disease that weakens muscles over time, showed noticeable improvements in strength and movement after receiving spinal stimulation. The study’s lead researcher says that the participants hadn’t expected any improvement but saw steady progress throughout the trial.
Originally developed to help people with paralysis, the implant delivers a low-level electrical shock to the spinal cord, activating dormant nerves and muscle cells. After undergoing a few hours of stimulation per week, the participants experienced stronger muscles, reduced fatigue, and better range of motion. One participant who admits to having low expectations going in to the study even calls the results “surreal and very exciting.”
By the end of the study, all the participants could walk farther and some benefits persisted even after the stimulator was turned off. Though the improvements faded over time, a neuroscientist involved in the study calls it an important proof of concept, suggesting that spinal stimulation could be explored for other muscle-wasting diseases.
Source: AP NEWS
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